Michael Bjornberg – LEO A DALY

Michael Bjornberg’s work begins where most projects end. Instead of a blank site and a clean slate, he steps into buildings layered with decades, sometimes centuries, of decisions, modifications, and memories. As an associate, senior project manager, and historic preservation specialist at LEO A DALY, he is known as “The Building Doctor,” a role that demands equal parts technical rigor, strategic thinking, and empathy. His responsibility is not simply to preserve old structures, but to understand them deeply enough to help them function for modern life without losing the meaning that made them worth saving.

That balance between past and future is increasingly central to LEO A DALY’s mission. Founded in 1915, the firm is an international architecture, engineering, interiors, and planning practice recognized for complex, multi-disciplinary work ranging from VA hospitals and airports to universities and landmark restorations. The firm’s strength lies in public and institutional spaces, particularly where historic fabric must meet modern performance requirements. Bjornberg’s expertise in adaptive reuse and preservation directly supports that niche, helping clients navigate political realities, funding constraints, and technical unknowns while delivering buildings that feel both authentic and relevant.

Roots in craft & public purpose

Bjornberg’s affinity for buildings was shaped early. He grew up surrounded by construction, with both handmade Norwegian carpentry tools, tangible reminders of a lineage rooted in making and repair. A high school drafting class gave form to his interests, cementing design as both a passion and a discipline. As the eldest of nine children, I developed leadership and responsibility naturally.

He earned his architecture degree from the University of Minnesota, where he later returned as an adjunct assistant professor, teaching preservation courses and mentoring students interested in sustainability and adaptive reuse. Bjornberg believes the decline of architectural history in education is limiting students’ understanding of the role of history in design. Studying cathedrals, civic buildings, and early modernist works taught him that architecture is inseparable from social purposes and long-term thinking.

His career gravitated toward civic, institutional, and educational work, culminating in more than a decade at the University of Notre Dame, overseeing roughly $500 million in construction. Managing projects across a historic campus reinforced how buildings function as symbols as much as facilities. It also shaped his preference for seeing projects through from start to finish, rather than contributing to isolated phases of production. The “Master Builder” model.

Working backwards through history

Bjornberg describes his process as “working backwards.” In preservation work, the building already exists, complete with undocumented changes and hidden conditions. Instead of imposing solutions, his team dissects the existing structure, layer by layer, using laser scanning, X-ray technology, and forensic analysis to understand how the structure actually behaves and has been changed.

“Be prepared, know your material. If I know my material, I’m good,” he says.

That approach underpins his control of budget, schedule, and quality. Early understanding reduces late-stage surprises and minimizes contingencies. Clients often fear existing buildings because of what they cannot see. Bjornberg replaces that fear with informed confidence, guiding owners through rigorous due diligence that ultimately saves time and cost once construction begins.

This methodology outlines the restoration of Alexandria City Hall in Alexandria, Virginia. Originally constructed in 1871 as a market complex designed by Adolf Cluss, the building became City Hall in the 1960s following decades of alterations. Those piecemeal renovations left the building confusing and uninviting, undermining its civic role.

LEO A DALY is modernizing the structure while preserving its historic character, transforming it into a transparent, accessible hub for citizens and staff. Modern thermal glazing systems will mimic historic windows, and the project is targeting net-zero energy performance. Demo permits were secured in October 2025, with construction beginning in early 2026. The goal is clarity and trust, using preservation as a tool for civic engagement rather than nostalgia.

“You can’t go in there and fake it,” he says.

Healing concrete & ecosystems

The Minnesota Valley Zoo redevelopment in Apple Valley, Minnesota, presents a very different preservation challenge. The 500-acre campus, built in the 1970s, is defined by poured brutalist concrete that is both iconic and unforgiving. Bjornberg is leading a multi-phase modernization that includes a new waterfront plaza and an animal care hospital serving species from fish to bears.

The waterfront project, under construction through spring 2026, began as a simple plaza replacement. Structural analysis revealed failing cantilevers, and environmental considerations expanded the scope into a comprehensive waterfront restoration. Working closely with the Department of Natural Resources, the team addressed permitting and ecological balance, ultimately improving conditions beyond their starting point.

Brutalist concrete leaves little margin for error. Mistakes are permanent, both structurally and visually. Bjornberg’s forensic approach was essential in restoring integrity while respecting the original aesthetic. The new animal hospital, beginning construction in early 2026, balances humane design with operational functionality. Habitats were designed around animal behavior, accounting for jump distances and throwing ranges for macaques, without relying on netting or artificial barriers. Eye-level viewing reduces stress and creates a more engaging visitor experience.

“Working on concrete is unforgiving. Wrong moves haunt you later,” Bjornberg says.

Mentorship, meaning & modern relevance

Bjornberg’s influence at LEO A DALY extends beyond individual projects. Historic preservation remains a small, specialized field, and the firm’s expansion into adaptive reuse depends on cultivating talent. He works closely with HR to identify skill sets, recruit from universities, and mentor young professionals, particularly through his ongoing engagement with the University of Minnesota.

He sees growing interest among younger architects in sustainability and reuse, driven by concern over resource consumption and the short life cycles of “fast fashion” of current buildings. Through teaching, tours, and nonprofit engagement, Bjornberg helps students understand that adaptive reuse is not a compromise, but a sophisticated design discipline.

What motivates him most are the human stories embedded in buildings. While he works on large, high-profile projects, it is often the smaller commissions in small towns that resonate most deeply and are often undervalued. He recalls being told how one preserved building was the last place someone saw their father before he went off to war, a reminder that architecture carries personal memory as much as civic function.

“Understanding what’s behind the walls changes how you treat the building,” he explains.

That blend of technical mastery and empathy explains why clients often ask Bjornberg to remain involved long after projects conclude. That manifests in Board positions and providing strategic guidance. For him, the relationships endure even after construction ends. By working backwards through history, he helps modernize America’s landmarks while preserving the stories and social fabric that give them meaning.