Michael Di Pasquale, AIA, AICP
Extension Assistant Professor Emeritus of Regional Planning
Master of Regional Planning, UMass Amherst
Master of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis
BA Architecture, University of Detroit
Biography
Michael Di Pasquale, AIA, AICP is a registered architect and certified urban planner with a small practice in Northampton, Mass. He has extensive experience in the revitalization of America’s “Legacy Cities”, the country’s once great manufacturing centers. He recently collaborated with Davis Square Architects, Boston on the design of a mixed used development in Northampton, Mass.
As an extension assistant professor at UMass Amherst, Michael taught courses and coordinated community outreach activities. In 2009, he and Professor Frank Sleegers founded the UMass Design Center in Springfield and, later, the Make-It Springfield collaborative maker space in the city’s downtown business district. These facilities provide opportunities for both Springfield residents and UMass students and faculty to engage in a range of creative design and maker activities.
Most recently, Professor Di Pasquale taught the fall "Research Issues in Sustainable Community Development" and the spring graduate "Urban Design Studio." He has also served as co-instructor for several graduate planning studios. Special interests include community participation and the role it plays in the equitable redevelopment of older industrial cities. His research has included the impact that transportation has on economic development and the influence that geography and race have on the revitalization of America's "legacy" cities.
Michael Di Pasquale has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC), an outreach program of UMass Extension that provides learning programs for members of Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeal statewide. Other experience includes design studio instructor at the Boston Architectural College, and architecture instructor at several elementary schools including Citizens School, Boston, MA and Stearns School, Pittsfield, MA.
Courses
SUSTCOMM 20: Dynamics of Human Habitation
SUSTCOMM 394RI: Research Issues in Sustainable Community Development
Press
- (2018, December 30). Governor Baker Visits Make-it Springfield | UMass Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment.
- Kinney, J. (2018, May 17). 'Great Ideas for Free': UMass Springfield Design Center students envision downtown's future. MassLive.
- Vancini, Peter. (2016, June 27). Making it in Downtown Springfield: Pop-up makers’ space in the city. Valley Advocate.
- Kinney, J. (2016, June 1). Make-It Springfield opens downtown 'makerspace' with do-it-yourself bike clinic. MassLive.
- Kinney, J. (2016, May 20). Make-It Springfield pop-up community 'makerspace' workshop coming to downtown. MassLive.