Moody Nolan Hauls in Awards

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus-based Moody Nolan, the largest African-American owned and operated architecture firm in the U.S., recently won several design awards over the first half of 2012 for its work at educational and recreational facilities. The company received a Citation of Excellence from Learning by Design for its work on the Cincinnati Public Schools’ Hughes Stem High School auditorium. Learning by Design honors architecture firms for innovative design work at educational facilities. Moody Nolan conducted exterior renovations and interior finishes on the project, along with providing assistance working with furniture, fixtures and equipment.

The design firm also earned the Innovative Architecture and Design Award from Recreation Management, a magazine for recreation and fitness facility managers. Moody Nolan received the award for its work on the new Ithaca College Athletics and Events Center. One judge praised the facility for having “good integration of form and function to create an iconic focal point.” The design maximizes the use of natural ventilation through the structure and a tower, by concentrating wind flow to dramatically decrease energy requirements. The company also earned an honorable mention from Learning by Design and an Outstanding Designs award from American School & University magazine.

Moody Nolan’s work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Union South tied with another project for top honors from Wisconsin’s The Daily Reporter and received best-in-show from the Wisconsin State Construction Industry out of 30 possible applicants. The judging panel indicated it was recognizing the company for integrating student ideas in a campus space that will also be available for use by the community. The 170,000-square-foot facility the firm worked on features recreation and entertainment aspects, including a bowling alley and climbing wall, expanded food and retail offerings, and a 450-seat auditorium.

Curt Moody, founder of Moody Nolan in 1982, was very pleased with the awards and with the success of his company.

“The range of awards we’ve won solidifies the diversity of Moody Nolan and the talents of the architects,” he said. “As a firm, we strive to deliver our clients innovative designs within the parameters they provide. Every project is unique and we take a client’s dream and aspiration and make it a reality. It is great to look back and reflect on the success we have had for our clients on these projects.”

Moody said the company targeted about 14 specific awards on any given year as a baseline goal and “this year we exceeded that tremendously and we are not done yet.” The founder said his company now asks clients from the beginning of the design process if there are certain awards they are interested in pursuing based on their industries and areas of interest and uses that information to shape the plans, without any additional budget requirements.

Founded in Columbus, Ohio, Moody Nolan now has more than 160 employees spread out in regional offices across seven states, stretching from Dallas to Chicago, and has taken on projects in over 40 states. The company will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with special events throughout the year. Moody Nolan has been recognized with over 185 local, state, and national design citations since its inception, as well as being named Gold Medal Firm of the Year in 2006 by the Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.