Marshall Purnell

In 2014, Purnell joined the College of Design at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He took the position of Professor of the Practice, Teaching Professional Practice, Design Studios, IDP Coordinator, AIAT Board Member, AIAS representative and Advisory Board Coordinator.

Washington, DC Hall of Fame (2013, Science and Technology)

The American Institute of Architects DC Chapter Centennial Medal (2012)

The American Institute of Architects Potomac Valley Chapter Paul Kea Medal (2010)

The American Institute of Architects, Legacy Foundation (President 2009-2012)

Honorary Doctorate of Architecture: Boston Architectural College (2009)

Marshall E. Purnell, FAIA is considered one of the most accomplished architects in America today. He is a former national President of The American Institute of Architects (2008) and the National Organization of Minority Architects (1985, 1986). He served as Design Principal of Devrouax & Purnell Architects Planners for thirty-five years. More than twenty million people a year live, work, play, or otherwise move through spaces and structures his firm designed. Firm projects include; the $850 million Washington Convention Center, the $700 million Washington Nationals Baseball Park, the Washington NBA and NHL venue Verizon Center, PEPCO Energy’s corporate headquarters, FreddieMac corporate Headquarters The National Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, several projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority, a New Town in Turkey, modernization projects at U.S. Embassies in Moscow and the former Yugoslavia, Cabinet drawing updates for 86 different Ambassadorial Residences world wide, a marina, restaurant, luxury housing, and golf course in the Bahamas’; and many mix use residential, institutional, educational, industrial, transportation, and commercial projects on both the east and west coasts. The firm has won AIA Design Awards at the local, regional and national level. Additionally, at the same time, Mr. Purnell was a Principal of the graphics design firm Design Communications for over ten years.

The American Institute of Architects, AIA, (President 2008, Fellow 1991),

Korean Institute of Registered Architects, KIRA (2008)

Royal Architectural Institute of Australia, RAIA (2008)

Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, RAIC (2008)

Commencement Address Boston Architectural College 2007

Commencement Address University of Michigan College of Architecture (2007)

University of Michigan Distinguished Alumni Service Award (2007)

University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture & Planning Distinguished Service Award (2007)

The American Institute of Architects National Design Award (2006)

Grand Rapids Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (2004, Basketball)

The American Institute of Architects, DC Chapter, AIA/DC (President 2003)

University of Michigan Alumni Board (Executive Committee 1997)

Mr. Purnell earned BS and M Arch degrees from the University of Michigan where he served as President (1994) of the College of Architecture and Planning Alumni Association Board of Governors and a member of the University of Michigan Alumni Association Executive Committee (1996-2003). In 2007, he received the University of Michigan Distinguished Service Award and Michigan’s College of Architecture Service Award where upon he presented the Commencement Address. In 2009, he received an honorary Doctorate of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College.

University of Michigan College of Architecture & Planning Alumni Board (President 1994)

United States Presidential Design Awards Jury (Member 1992)

The American Institute of Architects Fellow (1991),

American Institute of Architects Scholarship Committee (Chairman 1986)

United Way Campaign, District of Columbia (Campaign Chairman 1986, 1991)

National Organization of Minority Architects, NOMAC, (President 1985 & 1986) National Organization of Minority Architects Counsel

American Institute of Architects Housing Committee (1985)

National Organization of Minority Architects (Vice President 1984, Treasurer 1982-1984)

Member, US Delegation: UNESCO Conference on the Environment, (1977), Tbilisi, Georgia

Organizer: AE Federal Programs Conference, San Francisco, CA (1976), COFPAES

M. Purnell, L. Spiller (1976), (1978) “A Directory of Minority Architectural and Engineering Firms” (American Institute of Architects, American Consulting Engineers Council)

Organizer: AE Federal Programs Conference, Miami Beach, FL (1975), COFPAES

M. Purnell, (1975) “The Federal Market Place: Are you Prepared?” (American Institute of Architects)

Marshall Purnell (born June 8, 1950) is a prominent African-American architect and 2008 president of the American Institute of Architects.

Born in Toledo Ohio, and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marshall Purnell is the second son of the late Lelia (Givens) Purnell (1922-2016) and the late long-time professional jazz saxophonist Curtis Purnell (1921–2006). After attending Ottawa Hills High School and playing point guard on its state high school championship winning basketball team, and being recruited by the Boston Red Sox, he chose not to pursue sports and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Architecture & Urban Planning, a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture from the Boston Architectural College, BAC. Purnell taught design in 1973 at the University of Maryland. He is thought to be one of the first African American architects to hold a faculty position in the ACC. From 1974 to 1978, Purnell worked at The American Institute of Architects headquarters in Washington, DC where he was one of three members of the executive office. He entered private practice with the late Paul S. Devrouax, FAIA (1942-2010) in 1978 and co-founded the firm Devrouax & Purnell Architects and Planners, PC.