About

Michel Francis

Assistant Professor of Practice

MSc in Environmental Design of Buildings, Cardiff University, UK
Higher Studies Diploma in Architecture, Lebanese University, Lebanon

​Michel Francis holds a Higher Studies Diploma in Architecture from the Lebanese University and a master’s degree in environmental design of buildings from Cardiff University, UK. From 1995 to 2020, he was Chief Architect at DEC Consultants, a multidisciplinary building design and project management firm based in the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. In 2020, Francis founded his consultancy office, MF Architect, in Abu Dhabi. Throughout his career, he has provided architectural leadership and design strategies for high-profile global megaprojects across the Middle East, including the NEOM Trojena assets (The Tower, Raffles, Ritz-Carlton, Observatory, and Cosmic Gate), the Dubai Square Mall, and the Diriyah Gate development in Riyadh. In addition to architectural design, Francis works on Estidama and LEED-certified buildings as a LEED Accredited Professional and a Pearl Qualified Professional. He holds additional credentials in Project Management (PMP), Building Simulation, BIM, and is an AIA International Associate. As an expert in acoustic design, he oversaw the delivery of auditoria, schools, and other acoustically critical buildings.

​At SArD, Francis teaches Climate & Energy, Building Services, Environmental Systems, Design Technology, and Advanced Building Systems. He also teaches the Sustainable Architecture Lab; a professional elective he developed as part of the broader research and pedagogical platform he founded at SArD under the same name. He actively mentors Design VII students on design decision-making and integration through specialized workshops, lectures, and reviews.

​As the NAAB Coordinator for the DAID Architecture Program, he manages assessment requirements, documentation, and the program’s overall accreditation compliance. In this capacity, he serves on the Academic Accreditation Committee (AAC), chaired by the DAID Chair. His extensive university service includes roles as a Faculty Fellow and Faculty Fellow Mentor at the Center of Innovative Learning (CIL), a two-year term as a Faculty Senate representative for the Byblos campus, as well as membership in SArD’s Curriculum Assessment Committee (CAC) and Admissions & Student Affairs (ASA) committee.

​In the classroom, he applies his proprietary methodology, the “Cognitive Blueprint,” which utilizes a modified Bloom’s Taxonomy for sustainable architecture pedagogy. Bridging technology and practice, he develops custom web applications (archmfrancis.com/ai) and artificial intelligence workflows to advance architectural visualization and design iteration. His research interests include low-energy and passive design, building simulation, generative design, acoustics, circular construction (including the sustainable reuse of demolition rubble), and advocating for a sustainable built environment.

Select Publications

  • Francis, M. (2026). The cognitive blueprint: Applying Bloom’s taxonomy for deeper learning in sustainable architecture. AMPS Proceedings Series (ISSN 2398-9467). A Focus on Pedagogy Conference, Madrid, Spain. https://amps-research.com/conference/pedagogy-madrid/
  • Francis, M., & Asmar, J.-P. (2020). A novel method of teaching building performance simulation in post-graduate sustainable architecture. In Planning post carbon cities: 35th PLEA conference on passive and low energy architecture (ISBN: 978-84-9749-794-7). University of A Coruña. www.plea2020.org
  • Francis, M. (2013). A ventilation system for Abu Dhabi using a solar chimney, an earth tube and a desiccant wheel [Conference paper]. People and Buildings Conference, Westminster University School of Architecture, London, UK. Network for Comfort and Energy Use in Buildings.
  • Francis, M. (2011). Investigating passive cooling techniques in the summer season in Abu Dhabi [Conference paper]. People and Buildings Conference, Arup UK, London, UK. Network for Comfort and Energy Use in Buildings.