Matthew Coates

AIA LEED© AP NCARB

Matthew Coates' vision of Responsible Architecture took shape when he was just a boy.  Growing up on the shores of Torch Lake in Northern Michigan, he saw firsthand how poorly planned development impacted the water quality and way of life of his idyllic community.  Seeing these changes set him on a course that he would follow throughout his life.  He obtained his undergraduate degree from Lawrence Tech University, and received a full ride scholarship to the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois in Chicago.  After spending time traveling throughout Europe and Asia, Matthew moved to Seattle where he worked for two leading architecture firms: NBBJ and Mithun.  At NBBJ, he worked on the design of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation headquarters, one of the most sustainable office buildings in the world.  In 2005, Matthew achieved international acclaim by winning the "Cradle to Cradle (C2C)" Home Design Competition that challanged entrants to conceive the most sustainable home design of the future.  He has been featured in respected publications including: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, DWELL, and EcoHome, among others.