MFO STUDIO – MFO STUDIO

MFO Studio continues to endure over 25 years of exceptional practice in Architecture, Architecture Pedagogy in Higher Education, Global Transportation Security, Technology, Maritime and The Natural Environment, exploring Human Space + sharing Xtreme personal passion in the World Motorsports.

Mario F. Ortega Principal of MFO Studio, graduated in the top of his class from the University of Florida, earning him a Bachelor’s in Design + Master in Architecture. Immediately hired as a lead designer at an International Architecture firm where he was honored with his first AIA Excellence In Design Award. 5 years into his practice, MFO was promoted to Sr. Head Designer, and later to Director of Design at a different international architecture firm, where his design strength + expertise influenced an extensive range of international and national architecture projects.

As a Miami Dade College School of Architecture Faculty, MFO has achieved promotions, tenured and challenged himself to improve students’ learning + experience by establishing a New Architecture Pedagogy. MFO’s successful research and “problems of a design nature projects”, earned him a Master in Architecture Pedagogy from the University of Florida, making this his third degree in architecture and making MFO the first MSAS Graduate.

The American Institute of Architects, recognized MFO’s Pedagogy and his significant work at Miami Dade College by awarding him with the Education Leadership Award, becoming the first and only MDC School of Architecture Professor to be honored with the award. MFO published several different books, also earning him The AIA’s “Award for Writing about Architecture” twice.

Lectures + Exhibits + Travel Abroad Programs, include the Annual Sea Trade Cruise Global Conference and Green Port Congress, in The World Trade Center in Barcelona, Spain. MFO established a broad range of Worldwide Architecture Study Abroad Programs in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and the Far East, focusing in Architecture, Theory, History, The Environment, Marine Design, Transportation, Geography and Archeology.

During MFO’s tenure as Director of Design, he led his Design Team onto achieving the completion of dozens of worldwide award-winning projects. Some of these projects were in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, The UAE, Central America, South America, The United States & Canada, earning them an AIA Merit Awards of Excellence.

MFO’s ethos: “Students Come First + Architecture is the Design of Meaningful Space” has directed the successful education of hundreds of Miami Dade College Architecture Students over a period of 30 years. In return, MFO students have demonstrated gracefulness, by becoming colleagues and in not rare occasions personal friends.

MFO’s utmost pedagogical achievement are the Colonel Mitchell Wolfson, Sr. Endowed Teaching Chair Award and The Distinguished Architecture Alumni Award from The University of Florida.