Four Incredible African American Architects You Should Know
America’s very first Black licensed architects started appearing in the mid-1800s following the Civil War. Securing commissions in a white-dominated profession, especially after the enforcement of Jim Crow laws, was not easy. But as African Americans grew their communities, they needed trained architects to build their businesses, banks, churches, schools and more. These trailblazing men and women, who faced obstacles due to overt racism, were the architects that helped to leave a lasting mark of professionalism and workmanship in a multitude of buildings that history often overlooks.
Here are four architects you should know.
Julian Abele (1881-1950)
Julian Abele was a prolific and prominent American architect born and raised in Pennsylvania.
Even while working on his education, his experiences were broad and his resume rich. Julian Abele was a bright student, recognized by faculty and peers, alike. After delivering his high school class’ commencement address, he became the first African American student admitted to the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.
His entire life, Abele was a true designer and maker, even creating all of his own furniture and designing homes for family members. He loved to paint, draw, work with precious metals, and more.
Professionally, Julian Abele contributed to the design of some 400 buildings, from museums to universities to libraries and houses of worship. Working in the offices of Horace Trumbauer where he advanced to chief designer status, Abele is credited with designing the exterior terracing of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, including the front steps made famous in the 1976 film, Rocky. Though he had many, other notable works include the Widener Memorial Library at Harvard University, Philadelphia’s Central Library, as well as Duke University’s West Campus and Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Beverly Greene (1915-1957)
Beverly Loraine Greene was the first African American woman to be registered as an architect in the Unites States. Born and educated in Chicago, she quickly began breaking boundaries- geographical and societal.
Though her college campus had integrated upon her arrival, Greene was the first African American woman to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering. Later, she would also become the first African American woman to earn a master’s in city planning and housing.
Beverly Greene’s career and architectural creations took her all over the world. From New York City’s Stuyvesant Town, theater design at the University of Arkansas, designs for New York University, and the UNESCO United Nations Headquarters in Paris.
Unfortunately, Beverly Loraine Greene passed away at 41 years of age before some of her designed buildings were completed and opened to the public. Still, much was accomplished in her lifetime and her far-reaching legacy lives on through incredible architectural prowess.
Harvey Gantt (1943)
Harvey Gantt is a celebrated architect and politician with a career focus on philanthropy, equality, and the intersection of urban planning and architecture.
Born in what was a then-segregated South Carolina, Gantt was a true trailblazer in his community at many levels. Determined to pursue his passion and build a future through his education, Harvey Gantt became the first African-American student to be accepted at Clemson University, overcoming a legal battle to do so. Later, Gantt would graduate from Clemson with honors in 1965, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. From there, he went on to earn his Masters in City Planning from MIT.
In 1971, Harvey Gantt founded Gantt Huberman Architects in Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm has since developed some of Charlotte’s most iconic landmarks including the TransAmerica Square, Charlotte Transportation Center, ImaginOn, the Johnson C. Smith University Science Center, and the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Before being acquired by and joining Bergman Associates, the Gantt Huberman firm was known for their excellence and proven expertise in the design of higher education environments.
Amaza Meredith (1895-1984)
A woman known for many professional talents and aptitudes, Amaza Lee Meredith was a teacher, artist, and architect. All for which she was praised and respected. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Amaza’s life and legacy is one of positive impact that spans far beyond a small town.
Amaza’s first educational venture was that of teaching, receiving a teaching certificate from a school now known as Virginia State University. As the years went on and Amaza began to seek continued professional growth and learning, she became the student and went back to university for a degree in teaching, plus two degrees in art education- both a bachelor’s and master’s.
With her newly-earned degrees, Amaza returned to Virginia State University, this time to teach art. Meredith taught art here for years, becoming the department chair. It was while fulfilling this work that a new professional dream began to blossom: architecture and interior design.
Amaza Lee Meredith’s most famous architectural design remains Azurest South, located on the campus of Virginia State University. Azurest South was both Amaza’s home and workplace and is still a well-loved and example of the International Style or Internationalism of the 1920s and ‘30s. Now partially dedicated to the Virginia State University Alumni Association, Azurest South still welcomes visitors and elicits awe.
Sources
Amaza Meredith
Portrait: Thank you to Virginia State University Special Collections and Archives for reference imagery.
Architecture: “Azurest South” by AJ Belongia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Beverly Greene
Portrait: “Image Reference courtesy University of Illinois Archives (0003076)”
Architecture: “Unesco @ Paris” by Guilhem Vellut is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Harvey Gantt
Portrait: Photo reference of Harvey Gantt is under public domain
Architecture: “Charlotte Transportation Center 04” by WashuOtaku is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Julian Abele
Portrait: Photo reference of Julian Abele is under public domain
Architecture: Photo of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is under the Pexels License