Erica Clark
Jonathan Moody
Architects are known for their agility, creativity, and intuitive ability to meet the needs of clients and communities. Each project presents an opportunity to learn something new that shapes how we design for the future.
Last December, my firm was presented with perhaps its most significant project: to honor our title as the recipient of The American Institute of Architects 2021 Architecture Firm Award. Any firm winning this award—past and future—invariably feels some pressure. However, for us, the pressure felt a little heavier. Internally, we aspire to live up to high standards. Externally, we face obstacles that our firm alone shouldn’t have to solve. For starters, the industry’s call for equity shouldn’t be a metric, but rather a precursor to great architecture.
Through it all, we continue to serve as an example for all firms. That said, this past year came with its fair share of successes and challenges. Here are key lessons and takeaways that we will remember for years to come.
Stay True to Your Mission and Values
Accolades typically celebrate tangible accomplishments, but remaining true to your organization’s mission and values is the greatest achievement. Our time as the AIA Architecture Firm Award recipient let us show the world that we, as a firm, design for all people and create spaces that enable experiential equity.
My father, Curtis J. Moody, FAIA, built the country’s largest African American–owned architecture firm from the ground up. From libraries and hospitality to corporate offices and sports and recreation facilities, we see the power of community and lean into projects that make an impact. Most importantly, we continue to serve diverse communities with responsive architecture—designing solutions unique to our clients, the location, and the built environment. For example, we have preserved and revitalized the history of Black neighborhoods through projects such as the renovation of Madam Walker Legacy Center in Indianapolis and the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor in Buffalo, N.Y. We’re also part of the team reimagining the landscape of affordable housing as part of the St. Paul’s Area Transformation project in Norfolk, Va.
Take Care of Your People
The last two years posed challenges no one predicted. Despite encountering new hurdles every day, we kept our focus on our people. Teams exceeded expectations and pushed conversations to new places because they felt empowered to rise above the status quo. At the height of civil unrest, we began hosting an internal educational series, Walking The Talk, to explore what working at Moody Nolan meant in the current climate, how we could better understand each other, and how we could improve our culture together. This innovative series helped us understand our diverse professional environment and best address issues inside and outside the firm.
Great design happens when everyone is invited to the table to collaborate. Not only does our firm have an active diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, but we maintain diverse hiring practices at all levels, including our executive leadership. In a profession where the industry standard is not diverse, our staff is 45% women and 37% people of color. Our board is 29% women and 57% African Americans—these are statistics worth celebrating.
Since 2016, our firm size has grown by more than 80%. We attribute our continued growth to our DEI commitment. Our 12 offices across the country have persistently melded practical functionality with individualized culture, which resonates with both prospective employees and potential clients. We found new operational efficiencies, such as strategic staff appointments that match our approach to sustainable design, including a chief sustainability officer.
[O]ur staff is 45% women and 37% people of color. Our board is 29% women and 57% African Americans—these are statistics worth celebrating.
The Push for Diversity
The AIA Architecture Firm Award forever shapes the legacy of our firm and of the profession, placing diversity as the precursor to transformational design. We are using our platform and visibility conferred with the top industry award to continue advocating for more diversity in the profession. Great design can only be achieved through diversity of thought, people, and projects.
We view our role as not just an honoree, but also as a mentor. Our involvement with AIA Large Firm Roundtable allows us to connect with fellow architecture firms facing similar business challenges such as technological innovation, return to office, and accountability with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion advocacy. As a host firm for the National Organization of Minority Architects Foundation Fellowship program, we provide mentorship and design-research experiences for emerging professionals. We also have a lasting commitment to collaborating with and designing for historically Black colleges and universities and are a participating firm with the NOMA HBCU Professional Development Program.
Upon learning of Moody Nolan’s win last December, my father eloquently stated that architecture gives us the platform—but what we do with architecture and beyond will have a lasting impact on society. Though our year as the AIA Architecture Firm Award honoree is ending on the calendar, our role in designing for the next generation has no expiration date.
These lessons will guide us in the future as we encourage a culture of continuous improvement and proactive learning—all with immense gratitude. On behalf of Moody Nolan, I would like to thank The American Institute of Architects for its partnership and collaboration over the years.
To the next recipient of its Architecture Firm Award, we encourage you to seize the moment, celebrate all achievements, big and small, and pay close attention to the lessons that will stick with you past 2022.
The views and conclusions from this author are not necessarily those of ARCHITECT magazine or of The American Institute of Architects.
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