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MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
April 21, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2 -
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 8 of An Act providing for the zoning of
the District of Columbia and the regulation of the location, height, bulk, and uses of buildings and other
structures and of the uses of land in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, approved J une
20, 1938 (52 Stat. 799; D.C. Official Code § 6 -641.07), I am pleased to nominate the following
individual:
Ms. Marquisha Powell
Floral Street, NW
Washington, DC 20012
(Ward 4)
for appointment as a member of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, filling a vacant seat formerly held
by Lorna John, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end September 30, 2027.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
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at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOS ED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the appointment of Marquisha Powell to the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
RESOLVED , BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the "Board of Zoning Adjustment Marquisha Powell Confirmation
Resolution of 2026".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
Marquisha Powell
Floral Street, NW
Washington, DC 20012
(Ward 4)
as a member of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, established by section 8 of An Act Providing
for the zoning of the District of Columbia and the regulation of the location, height, bulk, and
uses of buildings and other structures and of the uses ofland in the District of Columbia, and for
other purposes, approved June 20, 1938 (52 Stat. 799; D.C. Official Code§ 6-641.07), filling a
vacant seat formerly held by Loma John, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end
September 30, 2027.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
STUDIOMB ARCHITECTS
EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT
=>
MARQUISHA POWELL
SR.ASSOCIATE|AIA,LEEDAPBD+C,NOMA
GEDUCATION
BachofArchitecture,UniversityofHouston2005
PROFESSIONALREGISTRATION
RegisteredArchitect|DC,TX
AmericanInstituteofArchitectsLEEDAccreditedProfessional
NationalOrganizationofMinorityArchitects(NOMA)
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE
StudioMB,2016-PresentPage(nowStantec),2005-2016
BIOGRAPHY
‘Marquishahasmorethanadecadeofexperiencedesigningandimplementinganarrayofprojectsacrossarangeofprojecttypesandscales,fromhighereducationandmulti-familyresidentialtocomplexspecial-useprojectssuchasembassiesandspecialtystructures,includingPier4 attheDCWharf.Withaninfectiousenthusiasmfordesignatanyscale,sheenjoysworkingwithclientstodeliverthoughtful,highlycraftedresidential,interior,andadaptiverouseprojects.Marquishaensuresthatideasconceivedduringtheinitialcommunity
outreachportionoftheprojectarefurtherdevelopedintodesigndetailsandconstructiondocumentstoensurebothlongevityand.stakeholdersatisfaction.HerexperiencenavigatingDCapprovals,fromHBRM,ANCS,NCPC,BZA,toCFA,coordinatinglargeteamsofspecialtyconsultants,andherDesignBuildexperienceprovideassurancethat,throughoutthedesignanddocumentationphases,complexdetailswillbecarefullyvettedand
coordinated.Currentexamplesofsucheffortsinclude:
SELECTED PROJECTS WITH STUDIOMB
PorcelBatAudiField,Washington,DCRole:ProjectManager/ProjectArchitect|2023ThisS00,000SFmixed:
useurbaninfilldevelopmentadjacenttomaingateofAudiFieldinBuzzardPoint.Thebuildingwillprovide462residentialunits;41,000sfofoffice
space;and50,400sfofretail,entertainment,andperformingartsspace.
DrewElementaryModernizationRole:SeniorProjectManager|2023-StudioMBisworkingin@DesignBuild
contractfortherenovationofthis71,000SFclassroomstructurewithofull
‘modernizationincluding@completerehabilitationoftheexistinghistoricstructureond«largeadditiontobringitinlinwiththeDistrictofColumbia
PublicSchools(‘DCPS”)EducationalSpecifications.
AdamsEducationCampus,Washington,DC
Role:SeniorProjectManager|2023This78,000SF,$5MDCPSeducation
campusschoolmadernizationthatrestoresanexisting1928structurewith@contemporaryadditionthataddresseslong-standingdeficiencieswhile
maximizingoutdoorareasofthesiteincludingrooftopterracesandplay
space,outdoorclassrooms,andnaturalplay-spaces.ProjectincludesANC,CFAondHPRBapprovals.
GeorgetownUniversityVarsityLockerRoomsatCapitalOne‘Arena,Washington,DCRole:ProjectManager/ProjectArchitect|2018ThisnewlockerroomcaterstoGU'sVarsityplayerneedswithcustomfinishes,signageandlockerswith
multiplestorageandconveniencefeatures.Adjacentspo-likeshowerarea
meetsgoalsoftheprogramunderformerHeadCoachPatrickEwing.
Pier4attheWharf,Washington,DCRole:ProjectMonager/ProjectArchitect|2018This$15ModoptivereuseofanexistingpierontheWashingtonChennelintoClassA officespaceandmaincruisedepotforEntertainmentCruises.Thebuildingsitslightlyupontheexistingpierandcanopyandisbecladinhighperforming‘materialwithanemphasisonenergyefficiency.
WhiteGravenorStudentLoungeandClassroomGeorgetownUniversity,Washington,DC
TheParksatWalterReedPetworth,Washington,DC
Dean'sSuiteRenovationsGeorgetownUniversity,Washington,DC
EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO STUDIOMB:NationalMuseumofAfricanHistoryandCulturePhase1SiteSelections,SmithtonianMuseum,WashingtonBC
NowU.S.EmbassyCompoundandOfficeBuildingIslamabad,Pakistan
NewUS.EmbassyCompoundRabat,Morocco
UniversityofMonterreyCampusPlan
SELECTEDPROFESSIONALACTIVITIES
Speaker
[AIA+NOMAPanelModeratorWomanWheLen:Power,Practice,andPerspective
GatingYesWithes:EatingEdvationalExprinceinanUshaSchooDict
+ALE Mid-Atlantic,April2026(Richmond,VA)ThePowerofWomen:TransformingEducationalEquityinWathingtonDC
+AIAWomen'sLeadershipSummit(Chicago,IL)
RevitalizingHistorieSchoolBuildingsForModernLearningandCommunityVision+AALEMid-Atlantic,March2024(VirginiaBeach,VA)+AIADACDesignDC,September2024(Washington,DC)+AALENational,Oct2024(Portland,OR)‘AnUrbanSchoolDistrict'sApproachtoEquitableOpportunitiesAcrossCommunities+AALEMid-Atlantic,March2024(VirginiaBeach,VA)+AALENortheast,March2024(Newport,RI)=A4LENational,Oct2024(Portland,OR)ResiliencyattheDCWaterfront,DesignDC
MARQUISHA POWELL - SELECT WORK
Execut
ive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Marqui
sha Powell
Ms. Mar
quisha Powell is a Senior Associate at StudioMB where she plays
a key role in shaping impactful designs across Washington, D.C.
With nearly two decades of experience, Ms. Powell specializes in
transforming existing structures to maximize their potential while
preserving green sites and reducing embodied energy. Ms. Powell’s
expertise lie in balancing historical preservation with modern innovation,
creating spaces that are both functional and environmentally responsible.
Prior to joining StudioMB, Ms. Powell spent over 10 years at Page
Southerland Page, Inc., where she refined her skills in project architecture
and comprehensive design processes.
A Ward 4 resident, Ms. Powell earned her Bachelor of Architecture from University of Houston.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Tomas Talamante, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: April 15, 2026
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution s nominating Michelle Pourciau and
Marquisha Powell as members of the Board of Zoning Adjustment
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above -referenced resolution s and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-
724-1303, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish