Michael Sorkin
Principal

Michael Sorkin is the principal and founder of Michael Sorkin Studio. His practice and work spans design, criticism and pedagogy.

Since 2000, Sorkin has been Distinguished Professor of Architecture and Director of the Graduate Program in Urban Design at City College of New York. His previous academic engagements include Professor of Urbanism and Director of the Institute of Urbanism at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Gensler Chair at Cornell University, Hyde Chair in Nebraska University, Saarinen Chair in the University of Michigan, Gilbert Chair in the University of Michigan, both the Davenport and Bishop Chair at Yale University, and professorships at the Architectural Association, Cooper Union, Harvard University, and Columbia University.

Sorkin is architecture critic for The Nation, contributing editor at Architectural Record, and author or editor of twenty books. His books include Variations on a Theme Park, Exquisite Corpse, Local Code, Giving Ground (edited with Joan Copjec), Michael Sorkin Studio: Wiggle (Works in Progress), Some Assembly Required, Other Plans, The Next Jerusalem, After The Trade Center (edited with Sharon Zukin), Starting From Zero, Analyzing Ambasz, Against the Wall, Indefensible Space, New Orleans Under Reconstruction (edited with Carol Reese and Anthony Fontenot), All Over the Map, and Twenty Minutes in Manhattan.

In 2005, Sorkin founded Terreform, and is currently its president. He is editor-in-chief of its imprint, UR (Urban Research), which was launched in 2015. He is on the board of several civic and professional organizations such as Urban Design Forum (Vice President) and the Architectural League of New York (Director). He is also a member of the International Committee of Architectural Critics.

Sorkin has been the recipient of several fellowships and awards. His recent awards include “Design Mind” from the National Design Award in 2013; and Fellow in the field of architecture planning and design from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation in 2015.

Makoto Okazaki
Partner Emeritus (2003-2017) 

Born and raised in Kobe, Japan, Makoto Okazaki has thirty years of experience in architecture, urban design, and construction management, with an architect license approved by the Japanese Ministry of Construction (1995). Makoto is devoted to both practical and theoretical projects at all scales, with a special interest in the city and green architecture. 

Jie Gu

Design Director

Jie Gu has 15 years of working experience in architecture and urban design territory. Previously, he worked as an architect at AECOM and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design in China. Jie holds a Master of Urban Planning degree from The City College of of New York, a Masters degree in Urban Environmental Design (Architecture Design Direction) and Bachelor Degree in Environmental Art and Design.  Since 2017, He is in charge of designing and organizing all the latest projects in Michael Sorkin Studio and leading the team won several international and local competitions.