Marvin Bornfriend was born in Philadelphia and earned a B. Arch. at the University of Pennsylvania in 1951. He worked as a designer for a variety of Philadelphia firms before establishing his own office in 1958. These firms included: David Morgan, Cronheim & Weger, Oscar Fallan, Edward Parnum, and Dana Stetser. By 1970, Bornfriend had formed a partnership with William E. Cox, which was dissolved by 1972. Bornfriend joined the national AIA the year he opened his own firm, and was a member of the Philadelphia Chapter, serving as a director in 1968 and 1969.

Written by Emily T. Cooperman.