As the second largest African-American architectural practice in the South, Stanley, Love-Stanley, P.C. If there’s one name that reliably pops up every so often in discussions of Washington, D.C.’s historic architecture, it’s Albert Irvin Cassell. Perhaps most notably, Lankford designed and … In about 1905, he began work as a draftsman in the office of Lankford and within a year opened his own office.

She became vice president and senior project manager for HDR until 2014, then took a position as chief operations officer and risk manager of STUDIOS Architecture. Phone: 404.577.0087

Born in Maine and raised in Massachusetts, she graduated from Howard University's School of Architecture and Design in 1985, later serving as associate professor of architecture at Howard University for 20 years.

She was also the manager/designer for the African American Civil War Museum.

Wichita, KS 67214 With a background in cultural and community organizations, Peter Cook currently works as a design director for D.C.-based firm Gensler, which he joined in February 2014.

Are there any notable architects left off this list? In an interview with Architonic, Peter Cook described himself as “not so much … unknown … [as] operating in the shadows.” This feeling was prompted by his great-granduncle, Julian F. Abele, who was one of the first and most prominent African-American architects in U.S. history. Kathryn Prigmore’s journey as an architect began when she was in middle school. Headed by African-American architects in D.C., the survey assessed the exteriors of nearly 6,000 buildings in Shaw in order to classify each as either sound, deficient, or extremely deficient. McAfee Modular Systems manufactures product systems to construct affordable single and multi-family housing. We are pleased to announce that Charyl F. McAfee-Duncan, McAfee3 Architects’ Dallas Principal, was recently elevated to Fellow with the AIA....Read More, McAfee3 Architects has earned awards for excellence in design by several notable groups in the architecture community.

BFA actively addresses issues of inequality and diversity within the industry and provides it's member Beyond his designs for D.C.’s Chuck Brown Memorial and the student center at the University of the District of Columbia, Michael Marshall and his firm Marshall Moya Design have made a huge impact on the nation’s capital.

Vernon Square and the renovation of a house for the Rev. New Horizon Sanctuary

Despite all of these accomplishments, Robinson continues to give back to his community in a variety of ways. The late Barbara Laurie had an incredibly promising career that was cut short, but is still worth remembering. Because of this, he has been regarded as the "dean of black architecture.". Because of the Shaw Joint Venture, many of D.C.’s minority firms were able to enter the mainstream of the architectural profession. His contributions to the local community were prolific. Other need-to-know projects include the Washington Convention Center and the Nationals Park baseball stadium. There are currently 2325 African American Architects from 54 state(s) in our database. Afterward, she worked for noted African-American architect Robert Traynham Coles, then served as associate dean and associate professor at Howard University from 1989 to 2003.

It was at this age that he created his first set of blueprints. Email: mcafeeks@aol.com.

Before opening his architectural office, Archer entered federal employment with the U.S. Treasury Department’s office of supervising architect as one of the only African Americans in the office. After graduating from Howard University in 1966, Robinson went on to work as professor of architecture and dean emeritus of the School of Architecture and Design at Howard University. Laurie founded and served as managing principal of DP+ Partners, LLC, was president of the D.C. chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|DC), and was a board member of the D.C. Preservation League. Our unique approach to Interior Design produces an end result that seamlessly blends aesthetics and technical aspects. Although Romulus Archer did not become wealthy in his profession, he did prove that a black architectural firm could compete with white firms, according to Ethridge. Like other architects on this list, Robinson joined the U.S. Army before enrolling in Harvard University. insist on the highest standards of quality in the DALLAS. delivery of professional design services, efficient According to the History Makers project, he is the Founder of the African American Architect Initiative, vice chairman of the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, and a professional advisor to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. In 1905, he organized a D.C. branch of the National Negro Business League, a self-help organization founded in 1900 by Booker T. Washington to encourage the development of African-American businesses.

African Americans are underrepresented in the field of architecture, and the progress made to further diversity in the field has been slow and barely steady. According to Ethridge, this was the largest comprehensive building survey ever conducted in the nation. Since then, he has emerged as one of D.C.’s most prominent African-American architects. Born in December 1874 in Potosi, Missouri, John A. Lankford is known for being Washington, D.C.’s first professional black architect.

While African Americans made up 13 percent of the total U.S. population in 2010, only 2 percent of licensed architects in the U.S. are African American. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

He is known for his long association with Howard University as a campus planner and architect in the 1920s and 1930s.

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Below, get to know 10 architects who practiced in D.C., designed for D.C., and lived in D.C. Born in December 1874 in Potosi, Missouri, John A. Lankford is known for being Washington, D.C.’s first professional black architect. He also notably designed the University’s Founders Library and was D.C.’s third registered African-American architect.

Ebenezer “I think this firm never loses sight of the fact that architecture is artwork performed in a social setting,” he told Architonic. In “The Black Architects of Washington, D.C.,” Ethridge writes that Pittman was hailed by contemporaries as the first black person whose design had ever been accepted by the federal government. In a matter of 32 months after coming to Washington, D.C., Lankford designed, overhauled, repaired, and built over $500,000 worth of work, ranging from churches to hotels to residential units.

The founding principals, Robinson taught at the University of the District of Columbia until the mid-1970s, moving to Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland, until the later ’70s. For over 35 years, Purnell served as design principal of the firm. Born in circa 1895 in Towson, Maryland, Cassell grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. In Lee W. Waldrep’s “Becoming an Architect,” Prigmore said that she would read any and all books about architecture in the City of Alexandria Public Library. Purnell was born in Toledo, Ohio, and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also served as the chair of the board of the Washington Architectural Foundation. His architectural firm was founded in about 1923 and lasted for four and a half decades, with projects including churches, commercial buildings, and residences, according to a Washington Post article from December 1968.

The Peachtree Center received the 2006 Building of the Decade award for 1956-1965 at the AIA (American Institute of Architects) Atlanta 100 Years of Atlanta Architecture awards ceremony. Even so, discrimination, a segregated collegiate system, and extremely limited commission opportunities have been enough to hold African Americans back from either pursuing the field or prospering in it.