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Outdoor headshot of Donald Powers

Donald PowersAIA, LEED AP, CNU

Founding Partner

“We believe that for communities of any type to thrive, they must be places that are cherished.”

Donald founded Union in 2001 with one overriding goal: to use architecture and urban design to contribute to the civic and social health of our communities. Starting with a single employee and a desire to reform our fragmented and ineffective approach to our built environment, he has stewarded Union into a nationally recognized firm collaborating with like-minded clients and colleagues all across the country.

For almost three decades, Donald has focused on crafting lasting places of exceptional value. Whether at the scale of an individual structure, a compact neighborhood, or an integrated masterplan he has been committed to using architecture to foster community, a sense of place, and the well-being its users.

A 23-year association with the Congress for the New Urbanism and frequent collaboration with some of the best firms in the country doing traditional urban design has brought an expertise in the technique and art of creating livable communities and cherished places. His completed work includes urban and town planning, commercial and institutional buildings, affordable housing, and the historic restoration of landmark buildings.

Donald regularly speaks at regional and national venues on the topic of restoring communities through best practices in neighborhood design, furthering his vision to save the world from sprawl.

He is a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism and is a board member of GrowSmart RI. He received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia, where he was awarded the annual Design Prize, and his Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.