8 Modern Architectural Sites Made By Black Americans to be Awarded with Preservation Grants

Preservation grants have been granted to 8 black modernist architecture projects across the United States to highlight and protect their cultural significance. According to Dezeen, these sites, which hold important connections to African American history, were selected as part of the Conserving Black Modernism program. 

Now in its second year, the program is part of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF), supported by New York's Getty Foundation. 

Conserving Black Modernism Program

The Conserving Black Modernism program focuses explicitly on architectural achievements by Black Americans, which have historically been undervalued and under-researched. 

Brent Leggs, director of AACHAF, emphasized that preserving these sites is not just about maintaining buildings but also about recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Black architects to American history.

 "These places are both repositories of public memory and beautiful expressions of American history. We believe that by preserving these overlooked histories and telling their stories, preservationists inspire commitment to equity and justice," Leggs told Dezeen.

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8 Modern Architectural Sites by Black Americans

Looking ahead, these eight selected black modern architectural projects will receive support for various preservation activities, including planning, programming, and research. 

While the program does not confer official heritage status, it provides the resources needed to pursue such recognition. Through these efforts, the Conserving Black Modernism program aims to bring greater visibility to the design contributions of Black architects and ensure that these important sites are properly honored and maintained.

As Leggs noted, "Part of the inspiration is to use public spaces to educate the public about the profound history that we steward as a nation, as a collective."

Saving Places Organizations shared these eight modern architectural sites by Black architects and designers that will receive the preservation grants.

1. Ira Aldridge Theater, District of Columbia

Located on the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University, the Ira Aldridge Theater is an architectural work by Hilyard Robinson and Paul R. Williams, two prominent Black architects. 

Completed in the mid-20th century, the theater is noted for its expansive brick facade and vibrant interior design, which reflect Williams' signature style seen in his other works, particularly in mid-century Los Angeles. The theater has served as a central hub for arts and culture at Howard University, one of the leading historically Black universities in the United States. 

2. Masjid Mohammad, Nations Mosque, District of Columbia

Masjid Mohammad, also known as the Nation's Mosque, stands as a testament to the history of one of the oldest Black Muslim congregations in the United States. 

Designed by architect and civil rights activist David R. Byrd, the mosque is an example of mid-century modernist architecture with its pale brick facade and clean, geometric lines. The building not only serves as a religious and community center but also symbolizes the intersection of faith and civil rights within the African American community. 

The grant will be used to reengineer and expand the mosque, with plans to achieve LEED certification, ensuring that the building is both preserved and modernized to serve future generations.

3. Robert T. Coles Home and Studio, New York

The Robert T. Coles Home and Studio in Buffalo, New York, is a distinctive example of mid-20th century modernist architecture. Designed and built by Robert T. Coles, the first Black Chancellor of the American Institute of Architects, the home is set back into its property, creating a spacious open yard that contrasts with its prefabricated elements. 

Completed in 1961, this building served as both a personal residence and a creative workspace for Coles, allowing him to blend professional practice with domestic life. 

4. John F. Kennedy Community Center, New York

The John F. Kennedy Community Center in Buffalo, New York, is another major architectural project by Robert T. Coles. 

Designed in the 1960s as his MIT thesis project, the center has become an important resource for community and non-profit activities in the area. The building features a vaulted gymnasium and a textured facade.

5. Neigh Dormitory Complex, Mississippi

The Neigh Dormitory Complex, located at the former Mary Holmes Community College in West Point, Mississippi, was designed by J. Max Bond Jr. in the early 1970s. 

The dormitories, which have fallen into a state of disrepair since the college's closure in 2005, were originally created to provide housing for students at this historically Black college. 

Bond, a pioneering Black architect, infused the dormitory design with modernist principles, focusing on functionality and community. The grant will fund a feasibility study to explore the possibility of converting these deteriorating buildings into transitional housing.

6. Universal Life Insurance Company Building, Tennessee

The Universal Life Insurance Company Building in Memphis, Tennessee, was completed in 1949 by the Black-owned architectural firm McKissack & McKissack, one of the oldest of its kind in the country. 

The building's neoclassical design, featuring a grand stone facade, symbolizes the aspirations and achievements of the African American business community during a time of segregation and racial inequality. This building once housed one of the most successful Black-owned businesses in the United States, serving as a beacon of economic empowerment.

7. Morehouse College Halls, Georgia

Three halls at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia-Claude B. Dansby, Benjamin G. Brawley, and John H. Wheeler-were designed in the 1970s by local architect Leon Allain. 

These buildings, characterized by their expansive brick and concrete details, have been central to the academic and social life of the historically Black college. Morehouse College has a rich legacy as an institution that has educated many influential African American leaders. 

The grant will be used to conduct building assessments, ensuring that these structures are maintained and continue to serve future generations of Morehouse students.

8. Azurest South, Virginia

Lastly, the Azurest South in Petersburg, Virginia. This historic home was designed in the 1930s by Amaza Lee Meredith, a pioneering Black architect and educator. 

The house, built in the International Style, served as both Meredith's home and studio, where she developed her career in fine arts and architecture. Meredith, who also helped establish the Fine Arts program at Virginia State University, was one of the few Black women practicing architecture during her time.

In the 20th century, these Black architects and designers shaped modern architecture in the US, yet their contributions have often been overlooked. 

Now, the Conserving Black Modernism program, a $3.1 million partnership between the Getty Foundation and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, seeks to change this by preserving their work through focused efforts on planning, professional training, and storytelling.

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