Volunteer Spotlight: Matthew Compton

Seeing an NDC project receive funding and get built is always rewarding to our volunteers.  This month we are featuring Matthew Compton, who is no stranger to working with non-profit organizations.  Matthews first two projects for NDC - both community gateways - were successful in receiving nearly $20,000 for installation!

Matthew Compton, AIA
Matthew is registered architect and an Associate with Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects.  He joined Murphy & Dittenhafer in 2002 after graduating from Mississippi State University, where he spent a large portion of his pre-internship years as a laborer for a General Contractor.  The majority of his professional work has been on projects for non-profit organizations and institutions like the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Baltimore, the Chesapeake Center for Youth Development, Johns Hopkins University, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and the University of Maryland - including acting as the Construction Contract Administrator for the new Marley Middle School in Anne Arundel County.  Matthew's current responsibilities include the expansion and renovation of the Beans & Bread Center, an outreach program and day center located in Fells Point, and a recently completed effort with the city of York, PA for the development of sustainable housing on an under-utilized city plot (he looks forward to the day when the adjective “sustainable” is redundant—when architecture is just assumed to be sustainable).

Matthew first volunteered for NDC in 2004 to develop a community sign for the Garwyn Oaks neighborhood in West Baltimore.  However, what started as simply the design of a sign became a "community image" project.  The tree logo was created specifically for the neighborhoods use in print and web media.  Additionally, the two-sided signs, located on Gwynns Falls Parkway near Garrison Boulevard, would help to market the neighborhood to commuters who use the road in and out of the City.  As a result of Matthew's work, Garwyn Oaks received $5,500 to install two signs with landscaping.

In 2007, Matthew provided design assistance to The Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville (NOGLI) to create a community open space and neighborhood sign for Waltherson in northeast Baltimore (click HERE to read about the project on our Project Gallery).  NOGLI was successful in raising $13,850 to implement Matthew's design!

For Matthew, volunteering offers an opportunity to be part of something larger than himself, “Society is becoming increasingly more connected and collaborative.  We as Architects, Landscape Architects, Designers, and Engineers have the ability to offer valuable insight regarding the built environment and policy issues and must actively engage in those conversations.  I appreciate and support the Neighborhood Design Center’s efforts to connect us to organizations in need and for providing opportunities to collaborate."

Thanks Matthew - we look forward to your being a part of NDC for many years to come!