Former President, Mike Haake has contributed 35 plus years at DWL. As a construction specification writer, Mike Haake has a rare belief that design is enhanced by the use of “finesse” in specification writing. Properly selected materials and well developed specifications with attention to detail can improve the durability and even the appearance of a good design without increasing cost. He has become proficient in the development of “Green Spec” specifications for sustainable design. This was utilized for the LEED certified gold projects of ASU Barrett Honors College, ASU Police facility, and appaloosa Library. For several years, Mike has been an instructor for the Construction Specifications Institute’s “Specification School” held at ASU.

Mike is also recognized as an expert in historic preservation. This grew out of his enjoyment of reading and studying Architectural History and his understanding of the properties of materials from the research for specification writing. Although Mike enjoys restoration projects, he believes that adaptive reuse keeps the architecture of our older buildings alive and relevant for future generations to experience, utilize and enjoy. “Not every historic building can be or should be a museum.”

Because of his extensive experience working with Construction Manager-at-Risk (over 40 projects), Mike has an understanding and respect for the contributions CMAR can make to the success of a design. He has long held the motto that “there are no absolutes in Architecture,” meaning that there is never just a single solution to a design problem. Working with the construction community and not against, the additional knowledge, ideas and interaction provides multiple viable options to improve the value of a design for the Owner.

As past president of DWL, Mike enjoys the title of “Chairman.” He encouraged new leadership to address the current innovations of sustainability and Building Information Modeling (BIM) and to provide an orderly transition of management within the firm. He believes this will keep the firm energetic and timely.