Meet the 2025 Urban Studio Instructors

These Birmingham-based professionals are spending the fall and spring semesters with third- and fifth-year students. From leading projects and field trips outside the Studio to crafting new ideas and developing their architecture and communication styles, this year’s students get to benefit from a variety of perspectives.

Marshall Anderson ’97 — Modular Construction Seminar

Marshall Anderson is the co-founder of Design Initiative, an architecture firm focused on regionally specific design and development where he’s worked on projects throughout Birmingham and the Southeast.

Why did you choose to teach at Urban Studio?

I’m an Auburn University graduate and remember how foundational the experience at Urban Studio was for me. As an architect and practitioner here in Birmingham, I wanted to be involved in the instruction of young architects and share the knowledge and experience I have, as well as advocate for the things I value with respect to the built environment. 

What do you think is special about the Urban Studio experience?

The experience gained at the Urban Studio is invaluable. Most students will get jobs working in an urban context, even here in Birmingham. Students are exposed to the local architecture community and have the chance to meet with, learn from and design with that direct input. Addressing issues like zoning, building code, fabric, structure, budget and schedule are critical control factors of design, and students learn to become conversant in these issues and use them to advance their design solutions rather than be limited by them.

Rebecca Dobrinski — Thesis Research & Writing

Rebecca Dobrinski is the founder of Red Thread Ideas. She is a writer, editor and presentation coach with a background in historic preservation and urban history. She has copyedited two urban history textbooks, writes about design review and serves as Urban Studio’s writer.

Why did you choose to teach at Urban Studio?

I started writing for the Urban Studio last year and later began working with students on presentation coaching. We worked through a few iterations of that and added writing support last spring. Since most industries report that their early career employees are challenged with expressing themselves in writing, we’ve structured this course to help students both think critically and improve their communication skills as they are producing their thesis articles.

What do you think is special about the Urban Studio experience?

Now that I’ve been there for nearly two years, I’ve come to appreciate the experience Urban Studio provides. It is a combination of a working studio environment and education space. Students get to interact with local professionals, guest speakers and the Birmingham community. It takes their education out of academic theory and into context in a way many students haven’t experienced. I think it is a great launching point for young architects.

Matt Leavell ’01 — Third Year Architecture Studio

Matt Leavell is the founder of Leavell Design Consulting, an economic and community development consultancy focused on urban planning, real estate development and strategic planning projects. His breadth of experience brings both a local and national perspective to his practice.

Why did you choose to teach at Urban Studio?

During my time as an Urban Studio student, I developed a curiosity about cities that formed the foundation for my professional career. It was my first opportunity to work directly with community members and consider building design as part of a larger whole. Teaching at Urban Studio provides me with the opportunity to rekindle that curiosity and help Auburn students discover their own passion and interests in design.

What do you think is special about the Urban Studios student experience?

I encourage my students to experience the city’s food, culture and entertainment so that they develop a personal relationship with the community. In studio, they learn how to design research tools that inform their understanding of the city’s form, demographics and history. My hope is these experiences and tools combine to form an empathy that stays with them throughout their careers, grounding their work in human experience rather than purely aesthetic or technical considerations.