Progressive Companies Appoints Michael Lubbers as Director of Design

Progressive Companies is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Lubbers, AIA, LEED AP, as Director of Design, strengthening the firm’s commitment to performance-based, human-centered design and integrated project delivery.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Lubbers is a trusted design leader and client partner known for delivering transformational architecture across a wide range of project types, including large-scale mixed-use developments, corporate headquarters, workplace environments, education, science and technology, and institutional facilities. His recent work includes leading feasibility, planning, and headquarters design efforts for Fortune 500 organizations such as General Motors, Procter & Gamble, and Tyson Foods.

Lubbers’ portfolio spans globally recognized projects and brands, including NEOM The Line, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Hub, Bayer, Navistar, The Adler Planetarium Sky Theater, and The New City mixed-use development on Chicago’s Near North Side. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Architectural Record, Learning By Design, Retrofit, Great Lakes By Design, and Lee Bey’s Southern Exposure. His work has earned numerous accolades, including honors from AIA Chicago, AIA Grand Rapids, ArchDaily Building of the Year, IIDA Red Awards, and Office Snapshots.

At Progressive, Lubbers will help advance the firm’s performance-based design approach, deepen its design narrative, and strengthen the connection between human experience, client purpose, and business impact. He is also passionate about mentoring teams, fostering open dialogue, and elevating design through thoughtful critique and shared ownership.

“In this rapidly-changing environment, leaders need to honor the past while creating the future,” said Progressive Companies President and CEO Meredith Bronk. “As a fully-integrated design firm, Michael brings the global experience and personal approach to hold that tension while inspiring the possibilities it creates. I'm excited to see the impacts of our work in the communities in which we live, work and play, amplified by Michael’s vision and leadership.”

Lubbers is particularly drawn to the front end of the design process, where listening, inquiry, and clarity of intent shape meaningful outcomes. He believes sustainability is most impactful when embedded from the outset and is known for crafting strong design narratives that are carried consistently from concept through completion. His approach emphasizes deeply integrated teams, where architecture, engineering, interiors, and construction work seamlessly together to deliver enduring results.

A Holland, Michigan native, he studied Fine Arts at Calvin University and Architecture at the University of Illinois. Lubbers has built a career shaped by craft, curiosity, and appreciation of the human experience.

“I’m excited to work alongside talented teams and clients to create experiences for what’s next, evolving our design practice into something more adaptive and aligned with how people naturally think, need, and behave," said Lubbers. "These are the kinds of experiences that truly last and keep people coming back.”