Manuel Hernandez was born in 1968 in Chicago to parents of Mexican heritage. His passion for architecture was ignited at Carl Schurz High School, where he achieved 2nd place in the Newhouse architecture competition. In the summer of 1987, he gained practical experience at the model shop of Skidmore Owings & Merrill. With the support of a Newhouse scholarship, he pursued his studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he distinguished himself in architecture design studios, earning two faculty citations for excellence in design in 1988 and 1989. From 1990 to 1991, he resided in Versailles, France, studying architecture at the esteemed Ecole des Beaux-Arts.

He completed his education with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1992. Following his graduation, Hernandez worked for various small firms as well as the renowned architectural firm Elias G. Pappageorge Architects from 1994 to 2001, where he led design development for numerous high-profile projects. In 2001, he partnered with his university colleague and friend Ivan Kutlesa to establish the architectural firm IK + Associates. Currently, the firm operates under the name Kutlesa/Hernandez Architects, Inc. Hernandez contributes his extensive design expertise, honed since his high school days, to the firm. He is also an associate member of the American Institute of Architects.