The International African American Museum Wins Top Architecture Award for Moody Nolan of Columbus, Ohio

Curt Moody
(Dispatch.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In 1982, Franklinton resident Curt Moody opened his own architectural firm with a two-person staff, and never dreamed that it would become one of the most respected architectural firms in the nation and the largest African-American-owned architectural firm in the country.

Therefore, it was exceptionally meaningful when Moody Nolan was recently awarded The International Architecture Award for its work on the new International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.

Hundreds of award submissions were received from architectural firms across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and the Americas. This prestigious program honors new skyscrapers, commercial buildings, urban plans, private residences and real estate projects that achieve a high standard of excellence in design, construction, planning and sustainability, and promote best practices in all types of real estate development for the private and public sectors.

This year’s recipients were from a total of 36 nations and their work was premiered at the Istanbul Design Biennial. The exhibition was entitled The City and the World and traveled through Europe prior to making its debut in the United States at the Chicago Architecture Biennial, September 21 – October 13, 2014.

The International African American Museum is devoted to telling the story of the passage of African peoples from slavery to emancipation and freedom in the South. The building represents the journey slaves took from the origins of Africa, across the Atlantic Ocean and through America. The interior visually recognizes the talents and contributions of African-Americans in dance and music, as is expressed in the collages, galleries, symbolism, imagery, patterns, colors and textures used within and on the exterior of the building. This expressed energy is meant to incite the innermost feelings of visitors, allowing him or her to fully participate in the journey with every twist and turn.