The Firm Award is the highest honor a Chicago firm can receive from the local chapter of The American Institute of Architects.
The Chicago office of Moody Nolan, a leading national architectural firm deeply rooted in the city, has been named the 2024 recipient of the prestigious AIA Chicago Firm Award. This distinguished honor recognizes the firm’s outstanding achievements in design, commitment to sustainability and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) practices, and dedication to fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
“From its creation as a firm, Moody Nolan’s dedication to a client-centric design process, design excellence, EDI, sustainability and community engagement positions them as a leader in Chicago’s architectural community” said AIA Chicago’s Executive Director Jen Masengarb, AIA. “As the nation’s largest African American-owned and operated design firm, the AIA Chicago Firm Award for their local office is a well-deserved recognition of their ongoing commitment to shaping both a better future through impactful design and a more equitable profession.”
Moody Nolan has made a lasting impact on Chicago’s architectural landscape since its arrival in 2010. Their design philosophy is rooted in empathetic listening and intentional collaboration to create spaces that not only function well but are also deeply shaped by the users. They prioritize understanding people’s needs and the cultural, historical, and environmental context of each project.The firm’s focus on social equity is evident in their work across Chicago’s South and West Sides, where they address the lasting effects of disinvestment and discriminatory policies. Their projects focus on improving access to housing, healthcare, education, and overall community well-being.
The firm’s notable work includes:
- The Home Court, an Athletic and Programs Facility at the Obama Presidential Center, a 45,000 square-foot community center with a state-of-the-art gymnasium and space for recreation and community programming.
- Friend Health in Woodlawn, a 43,000 square-foot one-stop comprehensive care center breathing new life into an underutilized space.
- The Black House at Northwestern University, an 8,900 square-foot home on the campus of Northwestern University for the social, political, and intellectual growth of students.
“This firm showcases true diversity, representation, and widespread community involvement starting with leadership,” the jury noted. “Their work is substantial and shows a tremendous, positive impact on the local Chicago community.”
Moody Nolan fosters a collaborative work environment that prioritizes in-person interaction. They leverage technology to enhance communication but believe that hands-on collaboration is essential for enriching their office culture and ensuring the success of their projects. Staff members are actively involved in professional and civic organizations, leading by example through their advocacy efforts and promoting the value of architects and architecture to the public.
The firm is a committed signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment – a national voluntary initiative promoting the design of carbon neutral buildings by 2030 – and has a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan. They prioritize minimizing their environmental footprint and creating high-performance buildings that are responsive to people and place. They have written policies and ongoing initiatives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, and their staff reflects a broad range of lived experiences, actively participating in dialogues and training to foster empathy and understanding throughout the studios.
“It’s a privilege to apply our craft and serve our communities, helping to facilitate the transformation of Chicago’s architectural landscape,” said Renauld Deandre Mitchell, FAIA, a Chicago native and Founding Partner of the Chicago studio. “We are grateful to AIA Chicago, our clients, and partners for their invaluable support as part of this recognition.”
The team at Moody Nolan will be celebrated at the upcoming AIA Chicago Third Thursdays event on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 6:00pm in the lobby of The Rookery, where their offices are located, at 209 South LaSalle Street in Chicago. Registration for this event can be found at AIAChicago.org/ThirdThursdays. The firm will be conferred their award at AIA Chicago’s Designight, Chicago’s premier architectural celebration, on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 6:00pm, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Registration for this event can be found at AIAChicago.org/aia-events/designight-2024/.
The Firm Award is selected by a jury of leaders and principals of previous AIA Chicago Firm Award recipient firms, and a representative from the latest AIA National Firm Award recipient. This year’s Jury was comprised of Jackie Koo, AIA, Founder of Koo Architecture; Trish Girdwood, AIA, Principal at LBBA; Michael Hines, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal at HPA; Saundra Little, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Quinn Evans; and Carmen Vidal-Hallett, Intl. Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Founder of EcoVidalDesign. Any firm within the boundaries of AIA Chicago’s territory with individual membership in the AIA Chicago chapter that has not won this award within the previous 10 years is eligible to apply.
About AIA Chicago
The American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago) serves more than 4,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, architecture students, and allied professional members in Chicago and is the second largest local AIA chapter in the country. AIA Chicago’s mission builds on the city’s architectural legacy by advocating for the profession, sharing knowledge among members, and partnering with communities. The chapter fosters a culture of design excellence for equitable, sustainable places and spaces.
AIA Chicago offers lectures and continuing education courses; specialized, issue-specific Knowledge Communities; advocacy for architects; and help for consumers looking for an architect.
AIA Chicago is the local Chicago chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Based in Washington, D.C., the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. Learn more by visiting AIAChicago.org.
About Moody Nolan
Moody Nolan is the country’s largest African American-owned architecture firm. Founded in 1982 with just two employees in Columbus, OH, Moody Nolan has grown to more than 350 employees in 12 locations around the country, leveraging the power of diverse backgrounds to drive design innovation. Specializing in corporate, education, sports/recreation, collegiate, healthcare, housing/mixed-use, and public service facilities, Moody Nolan is guided by its mission to improve every life the firm touches through responsive design — pairing empathetic listening with innovative thinking — to find harmony between client, community, and environment.
Established in 2010, Moody Nolan Chicago has led various notable projects in Chicago, including Friend Health’s Woodlawn Center, Northwestern University’s Black House, and Home Court, an athletic, programs and event facility at the Obama Presidential Center. Acknowledging the firm’s sustained professional excellence, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) named Moody Nolan as the 58th recipient of the Architecture Firm Award in 2021; the highest honor the AIA bestows on an architecture practice. In 2022, the firm celebrated its 40th anniversary and was also named one of the most innovative architecture firms by Fast Company. For more information about Moody Nolan, visit MoodyNolan.com.