Who We Are

As the Assistant Architect of the Capitol, Mr. Michael G. Turnbull is responsible for representing the Architect of the Capitol on several external commissions and boards.

Since joining the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) in June of 1998, Mr. Turnbull has instituted major reorganization initiatives to improve project delivery and programming. Mr. Turnbull established a new Project Management Division, a Design Services Department, a Facilities Planning and Programming Department and restructured the operations at the Capitol Power Plant into a cohesive Utilities and Infrastructure unit.

In addition, Mr. Turnbull has been the senior executive for the Architect of the Capitol overseeing several major projects and initiatives including: the Modernization of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Perimeter Security, the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory Restoration, the Dirksen Senate Office Building Renovation, the United States Capitol West Refrigeration Plant Expansion, the creation of the National Garden, the United States Senate Perimeter Security pilot projects, the initial programming stages for the United States Capitol Visitor Center, and Phase I of the United States Capitol Dome Renovation.

Since 2002, Mr. Turnbull has been carrying out the Architect of the Capitol's statutory responsibilities outside the Capitol complex and serves as his representative on the District of Columbia's Zoning Commission (and the Board of Zoning Adjustment) and the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission.

Prior to his appointment with the AOC, Mr. Turnbull worked for the Art Institute of Chicago to provide oversight on the museum's capital building campaign. After managing several successful renovations, he was named Director of the newly formed Department of Design and Construction. During his tenure with the museum, Mr. Turnbull oversaw significant and award-winning projects including the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Building Addition, the Ryerson Library Renovation, the Allerton Building Renovation as well as several major monument restorations for the museum's Ferguson Fund, including the Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain and Lorado Taft's Fountain of Time.

Mr. Turnbull began his career by working for several Chicago architectural firms, including Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi, and Peterson on numerous institutional and commercial projects.

Mr. Turnbull received his Bachelor of Architecture, a five-year professional degree, from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Mr. Turnbull is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and is a licensed architect in Virginia, Maryland and Illinois.