After enjoying hand drafting in high school, Maximillian Flaga knew he wanted to pursue a career in architecture. “The first time I held a drafting pencil in high school, I discovered a passion for the built environment that reshaped how I saw the world.”
Maximillian, who is currently completing his Master of Architecture at University of Detroit-Mercy School of Architecture and Community Development (SACD), is the 2025 recipient of MAF’s Alvin Ernest Harley Scholarship. “With the help of the MAF scholarship, I am financially able to continue my educational career, and I am extraordinarily grateful.”
Maximillian notes that his favorite part of his program are the communal aspects that allow for a positive learning environment that fosters tight knit collaboration between him and his peers.
What does Maximillian love the most about architecture? He appreciates how complex the profession of architecture is. “Every day I wake up, there’s a new challenge eagerly awaiting.”
Maximillian has always had an interest in expansive architecture. “Not just stuffing walls and rooms together, but creating an extensive and spacious interior environment,” he explained. Two of his favorite works of architecture are Zimmerman Architectural Studio’s Headquarters and MVRDV’s Wuhan Library.
Ultimately, Maximillian hopes to design mixed use projects, because they have a unique capability for molding an urban environment. For him, he is naturally drawn to these projects the most.
As part of their MAF Scholarship application, students must include a personal statement describing their interest, experience and plans related to architecture, and their leadership and extracurricular activities. Maximillian put emphasis on his focus on innovation and out-of-the-box thinking for improvement of the built environment. He also detailed his leadership capabilities through his involvement as an Eagle Scout and AIAS (American Institute of Architects Students) Secretary.
Students must also submit a personal portfolio with their application. Maximillian included various professional work, academic content, individual studies, and group projects. “It was impossible to put all of the work that I am proud of into my design portfolio. For me, it was a labor of love. It acts as a living document cataloguing my personal and professional growth over the years.”
Michigan Architectural Foundation’s mission is to advance awareness of how architecture enriches life. How does Maximillian think architecture enriches life? “My design philosophy follows MAF’s mission. Architecture is not merely the science of constructing four walls and a roof. It is the creation of space, the enabling of experiences. Impactful architecture is homogenous with the program it cultivates, and every design decision works together to enrich unique life experience.”