www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com 17
WBM
After finishing his master’s degree in architecture, Kersting
worked in the offices of renowned architect Ligon Flynn in the
early ’90s designing homes predominately on Figure Eight Island.
In 1995 Kersting went to work for developer Nick Garrett while
simultaneously launching Michael Ross Kersting Architecture PA.
He later branched out on his own, designing 10 to 15 high-end
custom homes per year as well as commercial buildings.
Kersting loved adventure and spending time with his wife and
boys. The unexpected loss of Kersting on Aug. 25, 2022 to injuries
sustained in a mountain biking accident while on a trip in the
Snowmass Ski Area of Colorado with his family has devastated a
community that embraced this humble, trend-setting architect.
His work challenged, inspired and transformed the area.
Coming soon, a floating restaurant Kersting designed for
Wrightsville Beach Marina. Kersting’s two principal partners,
Mark Wilson and Toby Keeton, have been working alongside
him and learning from him for more than 15 years. In 2019,
Kersting also partnered with Leslie Stachowicz to form Kersting/
Peridot Interiors.
Kersting believed in investing in the next generation and offered
internships at his firm for architecture students.
The Michael Kersting Memorial Fund has been set up to establish
the Michael Ross Kersting AIA Endowed Scholarship that will
benefit School of Architecture students at NC State.
KERSTING ARCHITECTURE
Right: A new age design of
MEDAC3 located in Porters
Neck won Michael Kersting
the 2006 NC AIA Design
Awards Honor Award
and the 2012 AIA Design
Excellence Award. Below
left: One of Kersting’s
favorite of designs is that
of Figure Eight Island
home “Surrender,” with
curved rooflines to mimic
the waves of the ocean.
Surrender won the 2018
Matsumoto People’s
Choice Award. Below right:
Kersting with his wife, Pam,
and their two sons, William
and Jack.
WBM FILE PHOTO
MICHAEL BLEVINS/MB PRODUCTIONS NC