Michel T. Lentz
Principal, Director of Mixed Use / Retail Studio, Director of Jacksonville Studio
At the age of 16, Michel “Mike” Lentz knew he wanted to be an architect. Even then, he was inspired to build a global career by designing visually-interesting buildings that solve human scale problems. Now, with 33 years of experience in the industry, Mike is continuously challenged to create versatile, profitable structures that are within budget, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. He is a strong multi-tasker who thrives on the fast-paced nature of design and the unpredictability of any given day on the job.
As the Director of the Mixed-Use / Retail Studio for Wakefield Beasley, Mike is instrumental in working with clients to take complex ideas and turn them into cohesive structures and environs that meet a variety of purposes and maximize the guest experience. He is passionate about solving clients’ problems through a simple philosophy of service: listen to the client’s needs, develop and implement a design that can be built and follow through. The resulting mixed-use spaces transform communities, attract a diverse customer base and yield profitable results for Wakefield Beasley’s clients across the world.
Mike’s portfolio includes some of the most successful and distinctive mixed-use and retail spaces in the world. Mike led the team that designed the 2.5 million square foot Dubai Festival City in the United Arab Emirates, which is widely accepted as one of the greatest retail experiences in the country. He brings this ability to problem solve and innovate on a global scale to every retail and mixed use project that Wakefield Beasley brings to life – both internationally and in their own backyard. Mike’s innovative design solutions for Atlantic Station in midtown Atlanta brought a thriving retail center to the heart of the city, and his Avalon project in Alpharetta is one of the most prolific mixed-use projects in the southeast. With retail spaces full and clients on a waiting list to move into this unique “urbanburb,” phase two is already under construction.
Mike is a creative force at the firm and a strong mentor to young designers. He identifies inventive, energetic people and provides them with the appropriate leadership to enable them to shine in their careers. In doing so, he has cultivated a talented group of architects and planners who he has led to design over 36.5 million square feet of innovative mixed-use spaces since 2005.
Education:
Associates Degree in Architecture
University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Construction Management
University of North Florida
Memberships & Affiliations:
Member, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Member, International Building Code Congress (IBCC)
Member, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
Member, Urban Land Institute (ULI)
