Information on AWM: founder, inventor, and CEO

Angus W. Macdonald

Born

1942, Baltimore Maryland, USA.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Yale University, 1964, Cum Laude
Saybrook Fellows’ Prize for Scholarship
Member Yale Advanced Architectural Design Studies Program
Master of Architecture, M.Arch.: Yale University School of Architecture, 1967
American Institute of Architects, AIA: Award for Excellence in the Study of Architecture, 1967

Professional organizations

AIA - American Institute of Architects
ICC - International Code Council
SFA - Steel Framing Alliance
USGBC - United States Green Building Council
ACORE - American Council on Renewable Energy
NCARB - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

Employment history

1958-1967 (summers)
Fugard Burt Wilkinson & Orth Architect & Engineers, Chicago IL.

position: junior designer, assistant field supervisor
projects: hospital addition, public school additions

1968
Harrison & Abramovitz Architects, New York, NY.

position: architectural designer, model maker
projects: McGraw Hill Building, Avenue of the Americas, New York City
- Vassar Campus design & additions, Poukepsee, NY
- New York State Opera House, New York City
- Banc Metropolitain, Paris, France

1969-1974
Marvin D. Goodman & Associates, Architects, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies

position: senior designer, office manager, associate
projects: notable private residences & tourist villas
- Liguanea Club remodel & additions, Kingston, JA
- Pegasus Hotel remodel & additions, Kingston, JA
- Goblin Hill Hotel, San San, Portland, JA
- Silver Sands Beach Club villas, Duncans, JA
- Hedonism II Hotel, Negril, JA
- St. James Court Apartments, Kingston, JA

1975 on
Macdonald Architecture & Technology PLC

position: principal architect
projects: notable solar and energy independent residences
- tourist villas, Jamiaca, West Indies
- earth sheltered and super insulated, Horton Winery, Barboursville, VA
- Barboursville Winery, Barboursville, VA
- Elderly apartment complexes:
  - Oil City, PA.
  - Erie, PA.
  - Orange, VA
- Low cost housing & apartments:
  - The Plains, VA
  - Oil City, PA.
  - Burlington, VT
  - Newton Street Townhouses, Orange, VA
- Fredericksburg Center: industrial & commercial mixed use complex
- Restaurants & commercial chains:
  - Durango’s Restaurants
  - CVS Drug Stores
  - Domino’s Pizza
  - 5 Guys Famous Hamburgers Restaurants
- Foreston Woods: commercial & apartments mixed use complex, Stafford, VA
- Planning & Urban Development: new town design: Lady Smith, VA
- Spa for Tryall Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica, West Indies
- Day Care Centers and Schools:
  - Salem Run Day Care, Fredericksburg, VA
  - Minnieland Day Care, Fredericksburg, VA
  - Foreston Woods Day Care Center, Stafford, VA
- Offices & commercial mixed use: Warrenton Galleria, Warrenton, VA

Design Awards

US Farm Home Administration citation: Most Energy Efficient Project: Heritage Hill Elderly Apartments, Orange, VA 1978

Orange Planning Commission citation: Best Subdivision Plan, Glengary, Rapidan, VA 1989

National Association of Home Builders: Best of Fredericksburg Competition 1990
Residential Design selling for under $150,000
Residential Design selling for under $250,000

Development of mass production techniques for green construction & low cost housing

Masters Thesis, 1967 at Yale School of Architecture
Macdonald proposed interlocking spiral slabs to form the floors and roofs of a 3-dimensional urban space in which individuals would rent areas, to be enclosed by mass produced fiberglass and foam insulation wall panels. The panels were to be modular and would create apartments and balconies for pedestrian circulation. Awarded AIA medal for excellence in the study of architecture.

UDC
Urban Development Corporation, Kingston, Jamaica, 1970
Macdonald designed, engineered, and supervised production of modular pre-cast concrete wall and roof panels for low cost houses constructed at Portmore subdivision, Hellshire Hills, near Kingston, Jamaica.

SPC
Spanish Town Panel Company, Spanish Town, Jamaica, 1971-1973
Macdonald designed the buildings, assembly line, and supervised manufacture and construction of panelized schools, homes, and agricultural buildings:
Beverly Manley School: panelized vaulted classrooms sited to create learning
Courtyards on Jamaica House Lands, Kingston, Jamaica
Jamaica Tobacco Authority: panelized vaulted tobacco barns, Maypen, Jamaica
Low cost house, panelized 3 room dwelling, price: $6,000, Spanish Town, Jamaica
3 low cost demonstrators: International Housing Exposition, Kingston, Jamaica
Prime Minister’s Cottage, private retreat, Blue Mountains, Jamaica

Hanna Furniture Factory
Kingston, Jamaica, 1974
Low cost demonstrator: floor, walls & roof panels set into a steel bolted steel frame; the entire house kit to fit on standard farm truck.

Solar Arcade and Sun Cottage
2 low cost earth sheltered energy independent homes, 1982, Orange, VA, published in The Mother Earth News

Assembly Line Design, Equipment Setup, Business Organization, and Production Management

SPC panel production facility, Spanish Town, Jamaica
Ferrocement prototype panel production unit, Academy Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA
Pacor inc., Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg, VA
International Panel Company, Fredericksburg Center, Main Street, Fredericksburg, VA
am-cor inc., Beverly Ford Rd., Elkwood, VA

Selected Ferrocement Panel Projects designed by AWM, manufactured according to his patent

Panelized test house, erected at Glengary Subdivision, Rapidan, VA
Panelized 2-bedroom low cost prototype house shipped to Mexico
Lobby and entrance enclosure for Fredericksburg Academy, Fredericksburg, VA

Salem Run Day Care Center, Fredericksburg, VA
Foreston Woods Day Care Center, Stafford, VA
Dominos Pizza, Foreston Woods, Stafford, VA
Buildings C & D, commercial center, Foreston Woods, Stafford, VA
Photography Studio, Foreston Woods, Stafford, VA
Solar classroom addition to Herbal Academy, Washington, VA
The Galleria, Fredericksburg, VA

Lee Residence: Fredericksburg, VA
Office 5000, Fredericksburg, VA
Residence, Eastern Shore,VA, US Army Corps of Engineers certified as flood resistant
Otoe Casino, 18,000 sq. ft., Red Rock, OK
Pott Luk, private residence at Glengary, Rapidan, VA
Addition to private residence, River Rd., Patomac, MD

Villa Stella addition, Tryall Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Thomas Residence & Office, Locust Grove, VA
Secret Paradise Hotel, Restaurant, and Stable Complex, Negril, Jamaica
Saratoga II, model home, Freezeland Orchards, Linden, VA
The Cottage at Flying Pig Farm, Akockeek, MD
Carter Residence, Stafford, VA, top rated energy efficient
Shalom Villa, Tryall Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Glengary gateway and entrance feature, Rapidan, VA
Windward Villa, Tryall Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and its subsequent additions:
- Staff Quarters & Guest House
- Poolside Play Pavilion
- Poolside Breakfast Pavilion

Macdonald’s Personal Qualifications & Vision

Angus W. Macdonald’s early employment experience stressed construction supervision, including on-the-job conflict resolution and coordination of building and service installation trades. On site experience gives him the knowledge of building methodology, which informs his pragmatic construction solutions. He has not wavered from his abiding interest in affordable housing and in the creation of sociable community through architectural design. He strongly believes the efficiencies of mass production will make beautiful and durable housing affordable for all. Macdonald’s substantial experience in organizing production methods and assembly lines, designing low cost housing, supervising panel production, the assembly of panelized construction on site, and training field crews in the USA and abroad, gives him excellent background for continued success in the creation of energy independent homes and viable interactive communities based on green design and sustainable construction technology.

Modified 2009-04-29