Michael Marshall

Michael Marshall is Design Director and Principal of MMD, leading each project in design excellence and managing every stage of the firm’s architectural projects with a keen sensitivity to context and environment. His creative design sense and artistic perspectives are integrated into each of the firm’s projects. Michael was the founder and principal of his own architectural firm in Washington, D.C. called Michael Marshall Architecture in 1989. Today, the firm is known as Michael Marshall Design (MMD). For his work, Michael has been honored with design excellence awards from The American Institute of Architects (National and DC chapters), NOMA, and IDA (International Design Awards, among others. In 2021, he was admitted to the AIA College of Fellows, AIA’s highest membership honor for exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society. In 2018, his work was requested to be part of the architectural design archives of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. He was named a 2016 “Power 100” Playmaker and 2014 Minority Business Leader of the Year award by the Washington Business Journal. He has lectured extensively on topics related to architecture and design, serving as a guest architectural critic at numerous local universities, and sharing his architectural expertise on local community advisory and city planning boards in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond. He serves on the Dean’s Council for the Yale School of Architecture and is a member of the landmark Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative, a pilot program with the nation’s leading historic preservation groups to plan care for cultural resources, buildings and landscapes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide.

Michael is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and New Jersey.

EDUCATION:

Masters degree in Architecture from Yale University
Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture with a minor in studio art from The Catholic University of America (CUA)
University of the District of Columbia (2 year program)

PROFESSIONAL:

2021, Architects Foundation Board, Member
2021, American Institute of Architects, College of Fellows
2020, Panelist, AIA|DC Virtual Town Hall, “How the Profession of Architecture Can Better Integrate Social Justice Values and Goals
2020, Panelist, AIA|Northern VA, “Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Lecture Series”
2020, Speaker, Gensler Design Exchange, “Embracing Multiculturalism” (global design charette)
2020, Featured in documentary: “Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story”
2020, Featured Guest, “Building the DMV’ Podcast with Jill Sorenson
2019, Speaker, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Symposium, “Shifting the Landscape”
2019, Panelist, AIA|DC and LAIDEA, “Understanding Unconscious Bias”
2018, Kea Distinguished Professor, University of Maryland School of Architecture
2018, Opening Convocation Speaker, University of the District of Columbia
2018, Panelist, AIA|San Antonio, SXSW Say it Loud
2018, Presenter, AIA|DC Design Week
2017, DC Historic Preservation Awards Juror
2016, Featured Speaker and Presenter at the AIA National Convention
2016, Speaker, Grand Opening of the University of the District of Columbia Student Center
2016, AIA | DC Design Tour of UDC Student Center
2015, Speaker, School of Architecture, Howard University
2014, Judge, AIA NYS design awards competition
2014, Panelist: Historic Preservation Office on “The Howard Theatre”
2014, Design Judge for PBS television series, “My Big Show” (WHUT TV)
2014, Speaker at international conference in Geneva focused on solving crisis of internally displaced people, presented an architectural solution to international organizations including The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) & the Displacement Research Action Network (DRAN) to be included in their joint report
2013, Speaker and Presenter: “The Diversity of Design” for the The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)’s DC Chapter
2013, Panelist, AAREP event on “Development in Washington, D.C.”
2012, Lecturer: National Building Museum Lecture and Tour of Howard Theatre
2012, Speaker and Featured Presentation: AIA National Headquarters on “The Howard Theatre Restoration”
2011, Speaker and Presenter: Workshop session at the Washington D.C. Zoning Administration to discuss existing regulations and new policies, master planning advice on these topics for the future of D.C.

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS:

2021, American Institute of Architects, College of Fellows
2018, Work Accepted into Permanent Collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
2018, Winner, AIA|San Antonio — SXSW “People’s Choice Award”
2018, Finalist, Mayor’s Arts Awards in Creative Industries
2016 “Power 100” Playmaker, Washington Business Journal
2014 “Minority Business Leader of the Year” by the Washington Business Journal
2014 Dandi Award for Diversity and Inclusion
2014 Speaker and Panelist: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Leadership Conference, “Culture, Politics & Preserving Heritage,” Washington, D.C.

Design excellence awards from: The American Institute of Architects (National and DC Chapters), The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), International Design Awards (IDA), the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, Graphic Design USA, Forrec, and the American Society of Architectural Illustrators, among others. His projects have also been recognized by The Washington Business Journal, DC Building Industry Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, Washington Building Congress, and DC Historic Preservation Office and Office of Planning.

MEDIA:

Michael has been featured in numerous articles, magazines, web publications and podcasts and in a variety of local, regional and national media outlets. Among others he has been featured in: The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal, NPR, Curbed DC, WTOP, American Urban Radio Network, Architect Magazine, ArchitectureDC Magazine, ArchNews Now, ArchDaily, Home and Design Magazine, Modern Luxury Magazine, Yale Daily News, Black Enterprise Magazine, AFRO, WHUR, Sirius XM Urban View, and ECO World Architecture News.

VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Member, Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative, supporting HBCUs nationwide
Member, Dean’s Council, Yale School of Architecture
UDC School of Architecture Design Jury
Morgan State University Design Jury
Montgomery County Community College Architecture Advisory Board
University of the District of Columbia Architecture Advisory Board
Catholic University School of Architecture Advisory Board
Howard University School of Architecture Design Jury
High school and college level presentations on architecture profession and STEM topics
Student mentorship, architecture critiques, hosting student groups in MMD office