Background
Born in Toledo Ohio, and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he is the second son of Lelia (Givens) Purnell and the late long-time professional jazz saxophonist Curtis Purnell (1921–2006).
Born in Toledo Ohio, and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he is the second son of Lelia (Givens) Purnell and the late long-time professional jazz saxophonist Curtis Purnell (1921–2006).
After attending Ottawa Hills High School and playing on its state high school championship winning basketball team, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Architecture & Urban Planning and a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
He entered private practice with the late Paul South. Devrouax, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (1942-2010) in 1978. In 2006, Purnell was nationally elected to serve as the 2007 First Vice President/President-elect/2008 President of The American Institute of Architects (American Institute of Architects), Purnell, an American Institute of Architects regional director from the Mid-Atlantic Region and design principal of Devrouax+Purnell Architects and Planners Personal Computer, Washington, District of Columbia, has been involved in numerous American Institute of Architects activities, including service on the Board Advocacy and Diversity committees, as well as on the American Institute of Architects Scholarship, Historic Resources and Housing committees. 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.
He has also been involved in leadership at the local component level through the American Institute of Architects District of Columbia chapter (American Institute of Architects|District of Columbia) and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and Council Member of National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), of which he was elected president in 1985-1987, and to several other executive positions.