Curtis Jerome Moody, founder of Moody Nolan—the largest African American–owned architecture firm in the U.S.—died this weekend, aged 73. News of Moody’s passing on October 13 was shared on Moody Nolan’s website.
After Moody’s death was announced, leaders both in and outside architecture shared kindred memories, and looked back on the doors he opened. “The architecture community lost a legend this week. Thank you, Mr. Moody,” wrote AIA president Kimberly Dowdell.
“Curt Moody was a great American architect, a good person, a visionary, and we have lost an icon in the minority business space and an icon in the architectural design space as well,” former Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael Coleman told reporters. “He’ll be sorely missed. It hurts, because his company and work rose to such incredible heights. Everyone looked up to him and it’s just shocking.”
Moody was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1950. His interest in architecture was spurred as a teenager: “My friend’s father was a builder, and he had some drawings in the house,” Moody said in a 2013 interview with The Columbus Dispatch. “I saw them, and said, ‘I want to do this’.”
By 1968, Moody was enrolled in Ohio State University’s architecture program. A three-sport high school athlete, Moody eventually walked onto the basketball team at Ohio State University as a guard. He graduated in 1973.
Moody and Associates was founded in 1982. The office’s first location was in Columbus, Moody’s hometown. Years later, Howard Nolan, an engineer, teamed up with Moody to form Moody Nolan. That firm eventually grew into a massive enterprise with more than 350 employees and 12 different offices.
Moody Nolan has long prided itself in its work for Historically Black Universities and Colleges (HBCUs). Moody’s first project for a HBCU was in 1985—a library and greenhouse at Ohio’s Central State University. Later, Moody Nolan was awarded commissions by Morehouse University, Howard University, Morgan State University, and others.
Moody’s son, Jonathan Moody, became CEO of Moody Nolan in 2020; and Curtis Moody stayed on at the firm as chairman. That next year, in 2021, Moody Nolan became the first ever African American–owned firm to receive the AIA Architecture Award.
In 2023, Moody Nolan—together with Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Hood Design Studio—won acclaim for the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. The International African American Museum was named AN’s Project of the Year in 2023.
The list of Moody Nolan’s important projects and accolades is long, including 43 design citations from the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). In speeches and interviews, Moody never shied away from discussing the racism he endured. His advice for students was always clear and to the point: “Be successful, and never let your ethics disappear.”
Moody Nolan shared that funeral arrangements will be announced later this week.