Michael Houle
ASSOCIATE AIA, CSI, CDT
Michael is a Specification Writer with a passion for writing, research, and technical problem-solving. He specializes in creating detailed project specifications and construction documentation to help MHM’s project teams translate design intent into clear, coordinated, and buildable requirements.
Before entering the architecture industry, Michael earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from the University of Tennessee, where he also taught English Composition and Rhetoric as a lecturer. He found an unexpected fit in specifications, drawing on the same skills he enjoyed most as an educator: research, analysis, communication, and strict attention to detail.
Michael enjoys the challenge of treating each project as a unique puzzle by researching materials, building systems, and industry standards to create thoughtful specifications that best support the project’s goals. He has experience writing specifications for a wide range of project types with a particular passion for affordable housing.
Michael also serves as a Director for the Construction Specification Institute’s Knoxville Chapter and is involved with the American Institute of Architects’ East Tennessee chapter. Outside of his professional duties, Michael enjoys reading modernist literature, collecting vinyl records, antiquing in new towns, and caring for an ever-growing collection of houseplants.