Michael Doty

AIA, LEED® AP
Principal

Michael founded the firm in 1993 and has practiced architecture in the Sun Valley area since 1987. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Idaho in 1981, is a registered architect in the states of Idaho and Colorado, and holds an NCARB© certificate. He began practicing architecture over 32 years ago in Denver, where he worked for several large commercial architecture firms. After moving to Ketchum, Michael joined Michael Williams Associates, and in 1988 opened and managed the Sun Valley branch office of Barry A. Berkus, AIA. Michael served on the AIA Idaho Mountain Section executive board from 1994 to 1998 as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President and President. In 2008, he was appointed by the mayor to serve on the City of Ketchum’s Design Review Board, where he served from 2008 to 2016 as a commissioner. Michael has also served as an appointed member of the Ketchum Sustainable Building Code Team.

mike allaire

AIA
Senior Architect

Mike joined Michael Doty Associates in July of 2017 after 17 years of architectural experience in California, Wisconsin, and Idaho. He has experience in many fields of architecture, including: commercial, retail, healthcare, and residential. He received a BA in Art History from the University of California at Irvine and is a registered architect in the State of Idaho.

CHRIS NIELSON

Chris joined Michael Doty Associates in August of 2019. Chris studied at one of the top ranked architecture programs in the country: The Southern California Institute of Architecture. While working towards a Bachelor of Architecture, Chris developed his strong design sensibilities under leading contemporary architects. He graduated top of class with honors with a thesis overseen by Thom Mayne of Morphosis and earned the 2014 Henry Adams AIA award. After graduating, Chris worked for several renowned firms in Los Angeles and Denver. After this wide-ranging experience, Chris jumped at the opportunity to join MDA. He enjoys working for a firm that balances holistic design with prescient detailing. He is working toward his architecture license.

brett simon

Brett joined Michael Doty Associates in February of 2021. Before arriving in Idaho, Brett worked at an AIA Chicago Firm of the Year in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked on multi-family residential projects, and for a design-build company in Miami, Florida. Brett earned his BA at Washington University in St. Louis where he double-majored in Architecture and Spanish. Upon finishing his studies he was awarded the Hugh Ferriss Book Award for Architectural Drawing. He spent a year at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine, where he learned how to make wood furniture. He earned his graduate degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is working toward his architecture license.

austin ross

Austin joined Michael Doty Architects in February of 2023. He studied both at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and Southern California Institute of Architecture. Upon graduating in 2020, he moved to the Wood River Valley to pursue his career while enjoying the outdoor recreational opportunities the community offers. Austin is passionate about working alongside those whose imagination and enthusiasm has contributed to the authenticity our community architecture provides.