Lawrence Powell was born in Birmingham, England, on 11 December 1888. Nothing has been traced about his training as an architect. He was a student at Oxford University, but it is not known what he studied.
With Arthur Bedford Knapp-Fisher (1888-1965) and Andrew Laurence Noel Russell (1887-1969), he was a partner in the architectural firm Knapp-Fisher, Powell & Russell, established in London, England in 1919. The firm was active until at least the early 1950s.
He lived in Guildford, Surrey and designed a number of buildings in and around Guildford.
He was onetime Mayor of Guildford and Chairman of the Guildford Society. In 1931 he was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA)
His address was given as The Weir House Millmead, Guildford, Surrey in 1931 and 1939 and 13 Motcomb Street, Belgrave Square, London in 1950. He died in Guildford on 9 July 1973.
The Sunken Gallery extension to the Watts Gallery in Compton, Surrey; Compton Village Hall; and houses in Onslow Village. He also designed a several houses in the St Catherine's district of Guildford including one for himself.