SEATTLE, WA.- MOHAI is hosting the national premiere of the traveling exhibit From the Ground Up: Black Architects and Designers. On display through April 30, 2023, this exhibition was originally created by The Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago.

MOHAI’s local additions to the traveling exhibit were co-developed with the Black Heritage Society of Washington State (BHS) and curatorial consultant Hasaan Kirkland of Kairos Industry LLC. The exhibit celebrates the enduring innovation and impact of Black architects across the United States.

Guests are invited to explore the past, present, and future of architectural talent while learning about Black pioneers working in a field that has historically been predominately white.

The traveling exhibit highlights 24 individual architects and designers, from the late 1800s to today. Visitors will recognize iconic landmarks from across the country and experience stories of people who paved the way for future generations. The exhibit also highlights seven historically Black college and university architecture programs that have been instrumental in providing opportunities and fostering growth within the field.

“These influential innovators have broken barriers formed by racism and created spaces and places that support communities and culture with projects ranging from public housing to places of worship to museums and universities,” said Leonard Garfield, MOHAI’s Executive Director. “We are honored to be the first venue to host this exceptional show as a traveling exhibit.”

From the Ground Up features bold visual panels, including, a timeline noting innovative moments in the field, from the pyramids in Egypt to today. Hear from cutting-edge architects Germane Barnes, Tiara Hughes, and Curtis J. Moody in video interviews as they dive further into the inspiration, impact, and experience of being a Black person in the architecture field, specifically noting the structural, overt, and covert racism faced.

Visitors will also learn about regional Black architects and designers who have had an impact locally and are appreciated nationally. This portion features historic and contemporary Seattle-area Black architects such as Benjamin F. McAdoo Jr., the first Black architect registered in Washington and the founder of the first African American-owned architecture practice in Seattle. See McAdoo’s toolbox and The Seattle Times and American Institute of Architects Home of the Month Award sculpted by famed Seattle artist, George Tsutakawa (1910-1997). McAdoo received the award in 1957 in honor of his work on the George Hage House in Seattle.

In addition, guests can engage with tactile elements and interactives, such as a touch table of building materials, and opportunities to design their own floorplans inspired by local Black architects.

Architects highlighted in this exhibit include:

• Georgia Louise H. Brown: First Black woman to earn a Bachelor of Science in architecture engineering from Kansas University and second to become a licensed architect in the U.S.

• Philip G. Freelon: Founder of The Freelon Group and the first African American architect to join the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.

• Roberta Washington: Founder/Principal of Roberta Washington Architects and responsible for designing new and modernized public schools, housing projects, health care facilities, and office buildings.