7 African-American Architects Who’ve Built Successful Careers in a Challenging Industry

Philip Freelon

Philip Freelon decided to start his own architecture firm after working for a mainstream firm for a number of years. Wanting to make important decisions as it related to his work, he decided to start The Freelon Group in 1990. Based in Durham, NC, the firm also has offices in Raleigh and Charlotte. Freelon has a number of big-ticket projects to his credit. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, he is the co-designer of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland. He also worked on the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, the National Center for Civil & Human Rights in Atlanta, GA, and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History in Augusta, and many other projects. Freelon has a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree in Architecture from North Carolina State University and a Master of Architecture degree from MIT. He is presently on the faculty at MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.