Morehouse Awarded Preservation funds for Historic Residence Halls

The Getty Foundation, in collaboration with the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, is advancing efforts to preserve Black modernist architecture, highlighting its historical and cultural significance.

Among the recipients of a $1.55 million funding round is Morehouse College, which will receive $150,000 to support preservation planning for three iconic residence halls. Designed by Leon Allain, a renowned Black architect of the 1970s, the Claude B. Dansby, Benjamin G. Brawley, and John H. Wheeler residence halls hold historic designations and are vital to Atlanta’s architectural legacy.

Launched by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2017, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has raised $140 million to protect Black historic sites across the U.S. This latest initiative underscores the ongoing effort to recognize and preserve the contributions of African American architects and designers, whose work has often been overlooked in the narrative of modern architecture.

Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the Action Fund, emphasized the importance of ensuring Black innovators are acknowledged for their pivotal role in shaping the built environment. Joan Weinstein, Director of the Getty Foundation, added that the Conserving Black Modernism program not only funds preservation projects but also invests in training professionals to safeguard this heritage for future generations.

Applications for the program, managed by the Action Fund, will open on January 10, with grantees announced in July.

This initiative is a critical step in preserving the legacy and innovation of Black modernist architects, ensuring their contributions are celebrated and woven into the fabric of the nation’s architectural heritage.