Matthew Bunza is an architect and educator who is dedicated to the creation of meaningful environments. Grounded in community engagement, his teaching and design philosophy positions everyday spaces as vital social infrastructure. This approach synthesizes global insights with local contexts to uplift diverse cultural populations.
He co-founded Metaamo Studio, an architectural design practice, as an international platform for bridging oppositions — across practice and theory; east and west; and to bring design thinking to underserved communities in Oregon and around the world.
Matt’s journey began at PSU, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Architecture in 2008. He later moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), earning an advanced Master of Architecture and a Certificate in Urban Design in 2013. His time at MIT was marked by significant honors, including the Floyd A. Naramore Scholarship, the Harold Horowitz Research Award, and the prestigious Alpha Rho Chi Medal. Upon graduation, he was appointed to the MIT faculty, beginning an academic career that has taken him across the globe.
He has lectured at institutions worldwide, from Columbia University to the University of Valencia, and has served as a guest critic at Harvard, Northeastern, and the University of Hong Kong. Before returning to teach at his alma mater, Matt built an impressive professional portfolio. He has served as an Urban Design Consultant for the World Bank and worked with renowned firms such as Allied Works Architecture and Patkau Architects. His international experience includes studies in Spain, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China, and Japan, all of which inform his socially responsible approach to the built environment.
Having grown up across Oregon, Arizona, and Massachusetts, Matt brings a broad geographic and cultural lens to his work at PSU, where he inspires students to design with empathy, sustainability, and a deep respect for local context.