MILTON SHINBERG
Architect. Author. Inspiring Speaker.
Project By: Shinberg Levinas Architects
Milton's Mission
My mission is to help transform architectural practice and education by reconsidering how we begin design, by re-envisioning the sequence and emphasis of the early stages of architectural projects. Through decades working with a very wide range of clients, I've seen how deeply architecture affects their lives and how well the ingredients for design can be harvested and prepared for an architectural feast that brings them both sustenance and pleasure. Every space we create has the power to enhance well-being, inspire our best qualities, and foster dignity. My mission rests on three fundamental pillars:
1. Practice
Practitioners can make small adjustments in pre-design and design at the start of projects that can yield benefits through the entire arc of projects. Getting it right the first time is enormously beneficial for real accomplishment and, right away, to staff morale, to firms as entities that enjoy aspects of being like families, and of course, to clients.
Among the rewards would be fewer design rounds to create concepts that have legs for the whole project. In the process, hours for these tasks can be reduced and, ultimately, rich, exciting ideas can emerge that clients and stakeholders enthusiastically support. They become our best collaborators and endorsers of our contributions as full-depth architects.
2. Education
The next generation of architects can design more effectively, more pleasurably, and with greater empathy, when assisted by exploration of the human sciences as they relate directly to architecture. By integrating the sciences of people with architectural thinking, we equip future practitioners with tools to create more authentic, more life-affirming, more humane, people-centered environments. Strategies for thinking more broadly, including bringing client surrogates into studio courses as just one of many enriching approaches, can prompt powerful ideas that conventional design often misses.
3. Leadership & Research
Shinberg serves on the advisory boards of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture and the International Arts+Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University. His work bridges the sciences of human experience with architectural practice, advancing empathic design approaches that respond to human needs and aspirations. He helps others capitalize on a deeper knowledge of people as an extraordinarily effective engine for making a more liveable world.
As an advocate for research that architects can apply directly in practice, Shinberg is a proponent for an evolving profession, populated by architects who have gone on to cognitive architecture research, people who can then act as early design consultants to architects. Their dual orientation equips them to participate in design in office settings, connecting the cognitive dots and research for the designers to reflect on in real-time. Research and practice can merge with ease and low cost.
The Complete Architect
Beyond his architectural practice but integral to his architectural thinking, Shinberg is, like many architects, a polymath whose broad interests enrich his work as an architect. He is an accomplished artist whose watercolor paintings and photographs have won awards and been featured in solo shows.
He is a musician who has played chamber music and composed a bit, including a wedding processional music for one of his daughters. He and his wife host Broadway singing parties, combining their love of music with friendship and the pleasures of adding that energy to their home. When understanding architectural essence is the target, each of these enriches the font from which we draw our ideas, our Aha’s, and our wisdom.
Photo Credit: Maxwell MacKenzie
Speaking & Media Engagements
Milton's authentic voice and expertise make him an engaging speaker who can connect with diverse audiences - from architects and educators and students, to community leaders, and to the general public interested in how buildings affect our lives. His ability to translate complex scientific concepts into practical design strategies, combined with real-world examples from his extensive portfolio, creates powerful and accessible presentations that people enjoy.
Whether as a dynamic presenter for educational workshops, or an expert voice for media coverage on architectural innovation, Milton offers compelling perspectives that bridge architecture, design, science, culture, and human experience.
Popular Speaking Topics
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The Science of Space: How Psychology and Neuroscience Are Transforming Architecture
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Beyond Aesthetics: Why Human-Centered Design Is the Future of Architecture
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Lessons from Non-Architects: What Everyday People Can Teach Us About Design
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The Beauty & Brains Connection: How Architecture Shapes Emotion, Cognition, and Well-Being
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Bridging the Gap: Preparing the Next Generation of Architects for Real-World Challenges
Media Expertise:
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Architecture's Impact on Human Behavior and Wellbeing
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How Architects Can Do Better for People
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Design that Helps Students of All Ages Learn
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Integration of the Human Science, including Neuroscience, and Architecture
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Designing for Underserved Communities
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Architectural Education Innovation
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Architectural Practice Innovation
His Presentations Can Be Customized For:
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Professional Architecture Organizations
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Educational Institutions
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Community Planning Groups
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Design Conferences
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Corporate Events
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Media Interviews
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Adult Education
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The “Coalition of the Curious” Non-Architects Intrigued by Architecture and Architects
Recent Speaking Engagements:
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AIA National & Regional Conferences plus the AIA Small Firm Exchange
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The Society for Neuroscience
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International Programs in Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil
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U.S. Department of Education Webinars
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University Lectures and Seminars
Conversations & Insights
Milton Shinberg regularly shares his expertise on human-centered architecture through interviews, podcasts, and presentations. These conversations explore how neuroscience and behavioral research can transform architectural practice, offering valuable perspectives for professionals, educators, and anyone interested in how our built environment shapes human experience. Each interview provides a unique lens on Milton's pioneering work integrating scientific understanding with architectural design.
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Kind Words
"Milton Shinberg's session on Architecture and Neuroscience at the AIA Orlando Convention was one of the most provocative and stimulating conference presentations I have ever witnessed. The discussion and conversation
outlasted the time and spilled into the hall."
—Russell Perry, FAIA
Former Director at SmithGroup, Former Managing Principal at McDonough Architects
"Milton Shinberg has helped dozens of public charter schools create distinctive, inspiring, and bold school buildings with very tight budgets. No architect has had a bigger impact on our sector."
—Scott Pearson
Executive Director, DC Public Charter
"Milton's attention to their deepest needs fosters great trust in the school communities he serves. They learn that his architecture is truly inspired by working closely with them. His ways of connecting with people are exceptional."
—Mark Zeizel
Vice-President, Charter School Development Corporation