Moody Nolan

Moody Nolan Improving lives through design. At Moody Nolan, we practice responsive architecture— designing spaces unique to our clients, community, and the environment.

As the proud recipient of the 2021 AIA Architecture Firm Award, we believe great design happens at the intersection of innovative ideas and divergent points of view. Named by Fast Company as the eighth Most Innovative Architecture Firm, our projects garner national attention, receiving more than 350 design citations and awards from industry-leading organizations. As the largest African American ow

ned firm in the country, diversity isn’t a program, an initiative, or a recruiting plan—diversity is who we are. Our firm is diverse by design with a staff comprised of 46% women 43% minorities. Equity and inclusion shape our firm culture and guide our decisions, creating design solutions that inspire positive social change.

Forty-four years ago, Moody Nolan began with two people and a belief that good design belongs to everyone. Today, that b...
08/31/2026

Forty-four years ago, Moody Nolan began with two people and a belief that good design belongs to everyone. Today, that belief has grown into a firm of 280, ranking us 115 on Building Design+Construction 2026 Top 400 Design Firms.

This growth reflects decades designing with and for the communities we serve, each one endeavoring to advance equity and improve lives.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗕𝗖𝗨𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻? After decades of working with Historically Black Colleges and Universitie...
08/27/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗕𝗖𝗨𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻?
After decades of working with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, some of the most important lessons we’ve learned have less to do with the buildings themselves and everything to do with understanding what’s around them. Here are five lessons we carry into every project.

𝟬𝟭 / 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲.
Planning around multiple priorities allows a single investment to meet more than one need. At Texas Southern University, the Library Learning Center combines academic support, offices, galleries, and social spaces into a broader campus destination.

𝟬𝟮 / 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲.
HBCU campuses carry layers of intangible heritage rooted in longstanding traditions and generations of students and alumni. Even when a building isn’t formally designated as historic, knowing why a place matters should inform how new development responds.

𝟬𝟯 / 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Some HBCUs have dedicated planning and facilities teams overseeing multiple projects, while others may go years between projects and rely on staff wearing multiple hats. Recognizing an institution’s capacity early helps establish the right level of structure and decision-making support.

𝟬𝟰 / 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.
Funding may arrive through state appropriations, philanthropy, grants, or other sources at different times. Planning individual projects so they can move independently while still advancing a larger vision gives institutions more flexibility to act when opportunities arise.

𝟬𝟱 / 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀.
Many HBCUs have historically operated at a smaller scale, where close relationships and community are central to the student experience. Planning for growth must meet future needs without losing the scale and campus life students value.

Between now and 2034, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nearly 3 million job openings annually across healthc...
08/25/2026

Between now and 2034, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nearly 3 million job openings annually across healthcare and production occupations.

Community colleges are at the forefront of preparing students for these roles. But meeting demand is only one part of the challenge. New technologies, increasing specialization, and evolving industry practices are continually changing what students need to know before entering the workforce. Their readiness will depend in large part on whether their learning environments can keep pace.

At Malcolm X College, the School of Health Sciences was designed with input from healthcare industry partners to bring the realities of clinical practice into the learning environment. Its 20,000-square-foot Virtual Hospital recreates settings ranging from patient rooms to an operating room, where high-fidelity simulators respond to students’ interventions in real time. Students can assess changing patient conditions, exercise clinical judgment, and coordinate care across disciplines before entering clinical rotations.

Central Piedmont’s Parr Center integrates hands-on learning into the daily campus experience. As the college’s student union, it expands where and when career preparation can happen. A dedicated makerspace offers students an informal setting to develop ideas through making and applied problem-solving. The makerspace sits within a broader network of resources, from recording spaces to technology labs, giving students across disciplines more opportunities to develop and refine their work beyond formal instruction.

𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 1-2: 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘪𝘦𝘥𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵’𝘴 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘳 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳
𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴: 3-4: 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘮 𝘟 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦

Our first encounter with a building is often through someone else’s eye. Some of the most familiar images of our work ex...
08/20/2026

Our first encounter with a building is often through someone else’s eye.

Some of the most familiar images of our work exist because Kate Horgan Photography and Angie McMonigal Photography saw a moment worth stopping for, whether it was light catching the folds of a façade or the bustle of children moving through a school.

In an increasingly visual world, photography extends a building’s reach beyond those able to experience it firsthand, influencing not only how projects are seen, but how they’re understood. A single photograph can convey the atmospheric qualities of a space, reveal its underlying structural logic, or capture the dialogue between a building and its landscape. Taken together, these images help communicate a project’s larger story.

This World Photography Day, we’re celebrating Kate and Angie for the care and curiosity they bring to our work. Their photographs have become integral to how audiences around the globe experience the places and communities we design for, and will remain part of each project’s legacy for years to come.

𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 1-2: Kate Horgan Photography
𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 3-4: Angie McMonigal Photography

National Aviation Day celebrates the wonder of flight, but every journey through the air begins on the ground, making ai...
08/19/2026

National Aviation Day celebrates the wonder of flight, but every journey through the air begins on the ground, making airports and the infrastructure that supports them essential to the future of aviation.

Today, cities across the country are growing faster than current infrastructure can keep up, and Columbus is no exception. Rapid regional growth is driving greater demand for air travel as the city’s connections to the rest of the country, and the world, become more important than ever.

Designed to meet the demands of a growing region, the new terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport is building capacity for what comes next. Scheduled to open in early 2029, the nearly one million-square-foot terminal will feature 36 gates—including two international gates—and accommodate more than 50% more passengers each day. Just as importantly, it is designed with room to grow, giving the airport greater flexibility to support rising passenger volumes and future air service as Central Ohio expands.

Inspired by the expansive Midwestern horizon, the new concourse translates that sense of openness and clarity into a distinctly regional experience. Centralized security, open sightlines, and intuitive sequencing are designed to help travelers orient themselves as they move through the terminal. A skylit atrium anchors the heart of the terminal, drawing natural light into the main communal gathering space and the central marketplace that surrounds it.

Once complete, the terminal will help set a new standard for how the city welcomes travelers and those who call Columbus home.

Gensler

Roughly one in four Columbus State students are parent caregivers who work at least part time. For them, success depends...
08/12/2026

Roughly one in four Columbus State students are parent caregivers who work at least part time. For them, success depends on more than what happens in the classroom. Balancing college, work, and parenthood can place significant demands on their time and energy. Having access to reliable child care can be the difference in their ability to manage those responsibilities while continuing their education.

We’re working with Columbus State Community College and the YMCA of Central Ohio to create a new YMCA branch on Columbus State’s downtown campus centered on student support. The building will bring together child care for student parents, recreation and wellness spaces, along with dedicated areas for Columbus State’s sports exercise program.

The project also represents another step in the evolution of the college’s downtown campus. Planned alongside new green space and other major campus investments, the YMCA will replace a portion of what is now surface parking with a new destination for students and the surrounding community.

Construction is expected to begin next spring ahead of a planned August 2028 opening.

Two neighboring HBCUs. One major housing investment. Over the past five years, Morehouse College and Spelman College h...
08/06/2026

Two neighboring HBCUs. One major housing investment.

Over the past five years, Morehouse College and Spelman College have experienced a combined enrollment surge of more than 20%. While this growth reflects rising interest in the HBCU experience, it has also placed pressure on campus housing, leaving many upperclassmen to navigate Atlanta’s increasingly expensive rental market. also placed pressure on campus housing, leaving many upperclassmen to navigate Atlanta’s increasingly expensive rental market.

To reduce the housing burden on students, Morehouse and Spelman are extending their historic partnership through their first jointly affiliated residential development. Set to open in fall 2028, the nearly 800-bed community will be conveniently located between both campuses. Rents are projected to average roughly 3% below comparable off-campus apartments, making it more feasible for students to remain near campus throughout their path to graduation.

Designing a residential community of this scale meant balancing density with a sense of community. At the heart of the development is a large central courtyard, with an open lawn and smaller gathering areas to encourage student connection. The courtyard serves as a symbolic point of convergence, reflecting the historic partnership between the two HBCUs.

What’s an architect’s role once construction begins? Last week, our Columbus intern cohort traveled to Cincinnati to fin...
08/03/2026

What’s an architect’s role once construction begins?

Last week, our Columbus intern cohort traveled to Cincinnati to find out. At the Findlay Recreation Center, they joined the project’s weekly owner-architect-contractor meeting, where they learned how architects maintain design intent as they respond to real-time construction conditions. Afterward, they toured the site to see firsthand how decisions made during those meetings are carried into construction.

The day continued with a stop at our Cincinnati office, followed by a walk through downtown to see several Moody Nolan projects firsthand, including the recently opened First Financial Center and Elm Street Plaza. The group also got a glimpse of the newly dug convention hotel site before spending time exploring the architecture and urban fabric of downtown Cincinnati.

Experiences like these give emerging designers a fuller view of the profession by showing how architects stay engaged from design through construction. We’re intentional about creating hands-on opportunities for interns to engage with projects and learn directly from the people shaping them.

Internships are often defined by what students learn, but equally important is what they contribute. On , we’re celebra...
07/30/2026

Internships are often defined by what students learn, but equally important is what they contribute.

On , we’re celebrating the interns who’ve spent their summer learning and contributing to Moody Nolan as they begin to find their own paths within architecture and design.

Each summer, we welcome interns to join our architecture and interior design teams, where they can explore the areas of practice that interest them most. With guidance from mentors across the firm, our interns build confidence while developing professional, real-world experiences. They take part in project conversations, learn alongside our teams, and experience firsthand how design decisions move from conversation to construction.

Their curiosity has prompted new conversations across our offices, and their ideas have brought new perspectives to the way we think and work. We’re proud of the thoughtfulness and energy they bring, and we’re excited to see where their paths lead next.

Meet our 2026 summer interns!
Hailey Oo
Liliana Navarro
Kristin Leuzinger
Fiona Uwumugisha
Sullivan Whitehead

As affordable housing challenges rise, so do the partnerships shaping new solutions. The The New York Times features Moo...
07/30/2026

As affordable housing challenges rise, so do the partnerships shaping new solutions.

The The New York Times features Moody Nolan in a national conversation examining how big-box retailers, developers, and design teams are reimagining retail properties as mixed-use communities that expand affordable housing while strengthening urban settings.

The story features insights from Moody Nolan's Housing Practice Leader, Yanitza Brongers-Marrero, who discusses the importance of designing developments that balance housing, retail, and community needs while creating places that are both economically resilient and people-centered.

The article also looks at Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio, as part of its broader discussion of how mixed-use districts are adapting conventional retail models to denser settings. Developed by Hoying, the district brings together several residential buildings and public spaces designed by Moody Nolan, along with a mix of local and national tenants.

Read the full article to explore how innovative partnerships and mixed-use developments are outlining the future of affordable housing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/business/costco-target-affordable-housing.html

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