Simisola Marinho, IIDA
Government & Defense Leader, Studio Director, Principal
Simi is a global leader of the firm’s Government & Defense practic area and a Studio Director in Gensler’s D.C. office. She leads and manages projects, including workplace strategy, interior design, design standards and guidelines, real estate and portfolio analysis, and asset repositioning. She brings two decades of experience working in both public and private sectors across the United States, West Africa, and the Caribbean.
Serving primarily federal and local government clients, Simi combines deep technical expertise from her architecture background with a keen understanding of clients’ strategic and organizational needs, drawing upon her experience in consulting and project management. Delivering first-rate spaces and user-centered experiences for clients is her passion, and Simi has an innate ability to translate long-term goals into real solutions in the built environment.
Simi takes a people-first approach to her work for both clients and teams. She is committed to building integrated teams with the singular focus of achieving design excellence while exceeding client expectations. Additionally, Simi is a member of Gensler’s Global Race and Diversity Committee. Through hands-on teaching, mentoring, and empowerment, she firmly believes in setting up the next generation for success.