Curtis J. Moody—founder and chairman of Moody Nolan, the largest African American-owned architecture firm in the U.S.—passed away on Sunday, October 13th. He was 73.
A transformative figure in the architecture field, Moody’s contributions fostered diversity and inclusion, while delivering design excellence across the country.
Moody was born and raised in a small town northeast of Columbus, Ohio, where his love for architecture first blossomed. After earning his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Ohio State University in 1973, Moody founded Moody and Associates in 1982. In 1984, he partnered with the late Howard E. Nolan, an engineer, to form what would become Moody Nolan.
Throughout his career, Moody was widely celebrated. He received the 1992 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions as an African American architect, and was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) College of Fellows in 1997.
Moody also received an honorary doctorate from Ohio Dominican University in 2008 and completed additional education at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Columbus Technical Institute.
In 2021, Moody Nolan was awarded the AIA Architecture Firm Award, the first African American-owned firm to receive this honor.
With less than two percent of licensed architects in the U.S. being African American, Moody’s journey in the industry is a testament to his perseverance and passion for breaking barriers. His resolve to increase representation in the field was evident in his mentorship of young architects and his advocacy for diversity within the profession.
“My dad’s vision was clear: architecture could not only transform spaces but also uplift communities,” says Jonathan Moody, CEO and president of Moody Nolan.
Under Moody’s leadership, the firm completed a number of milestone projects, including:
- Schottenstein Center at the Ohio State University – A breakthrough project for the firm, setting it on a course for larger projects in a prime role.
- Recreation and Physical Activity Center at the Ohio State University
- Ithaca College Athletics and Events Center – The firm’s first national design competition win
- The New Malcolm X College in Chicago – The largest prime contract ever awarded to a minority design firm in the history of Chicago and the state of Illinois
- Wintrust Arena – Home to the WNBA’s Chicago Sky and DePaul University basketball teams
- Lincoln Center – Part of the design team for the reimagining of the Amsterdam Avenue side of the iconic New York institution
- International African American Museum
- Forbes Arena – The basketball venue for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, later donated to Morehouse College.
Before his death, Moody was involved in the design of two projects slated for completion in 2025 and 2027, respectively: Home Court, an athletics, programs, and event facility at the Obama Presidential Center; and the Morgan State University Science and Research Complex in Baltimore.
Moody is survived by his wife Elaine Moody, three sons (Curtis Jr., David, and Jonathan), and five grandchildren.
