Michael Hunt

Background & Interests:

As a research architect/planner, I teach and conduct research about the influence of environmental design on the relationship between people and the built environment, a field known as Environment & Behavior Studies (EBS).  EBS addresses both practice and research issues by striving to improve the quality of human environments through research-based design.  I have earned a Doctor of Architecture (University of Michigan), a Master of Community and Regional Planning (Kansas State University) and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (University of Arkansas). 

Research: 

My research has focused on the resolution of real-world problems involving the interaction of people and the built environment such as: 1) mitigating the negative effects of the forced relocation of older people to nursing homes; 2) the design and planning of supportive housing that naturally attracts older people; and most recently, 3) studying the convergence of design applications of two culturally diverse fields of study – EBS and Feng Shui. 

My most prominent research has been in the area of naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) - places not planned or designed for older residents, but have attracted a preponderance of residents at least 60 years old.  An important outgrowth of NORC research has been the Federal NORC Demonstration Program.  I have been actively involved in this program by reviewing proposals for the demonstration sites and serving on the Technical Advisory Group to provide guidance on the review of the NORC demonstration sites.  I recently consulted and collaborated with the Executive Director of a Madison Retirement Community, on the successful proposal for a NORC demonstration project here in Madison.

Teaching: 

I teach an introductory course on EBS (ETD 221 – Person & Environment Interactions).  The course seeks to enhance students’ understanding of how buildings and outdoor spaces affect them throughout their lifetimes.  Recently, Feng Shui has been included in the course.  The course is required for interior design and landscape architecture majors and is included in the Institute on Aging’s Certificate in Gerontology coursework.

Community Partnership Involving Teaching and Research: 

I have developed a service-learning and community-based research partnership with Oakwood Village Retirement Communities of Madison.  In the partnership, Oakwood has served as a living laboratory for research, education, and outreach.  In return, Oakwood has received state-of-the-art environmental design-related information pertaining to their ongoing development.  The related courses I teach give students a rare opportunity to apply their understanding of EBS to actual projects.

Summary: 

By utilizing teaching, research, and outreach to complement each other, I have been able to address EBS in a way that has benefited students, the community, and my own scholarly pursuits.