Phil Freelon facts for kids

Philip Goodwin Freelon (born March 26, 1953 – died July 9, 2019) was a famous American architect. He was most known for leading the team that designed the Smithsonian Institution's amazing National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum celebrates the history and culture of African Americans.

Phil Freelon also worked on other important buildings. These include the Center for Civil & Human Rights and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. He was a top architect and even received a special award for his public building designs. In 2012, President Barack Obama chose him to be part of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Phil Freelon was married to Nnenna Freelon, a jazz singer nominated for six Grammy awards.

Early Life and Education

Phil Freelon grew up in Philadelphia. He went to Central High School there. After high school, he studied at North Carolina State University. He earned a degree in Environmental Design with top honors.

Later, in 1977, he went to the MIT. There, he earned his Master of Architecture degree.

Building a Career

Phil Freelon was a professor at North Carolina State University. He also taught and gave talks at many other famous universities. These included Harvard University and MIT.

In 1989, he received a special scholarship called the Loeb Fellowship. This allowed him to study at the Harvard Graduate School of Design for a year. He also became a professor at MIT's School of Architecture and Planning.

The Freelon Group

In 1990, Philip Freelon started his own company, The Freelon Group. His company grew to have sixty architects. They were known for designing museums, cultural centers, and university buildings.

The Freelon Group won many awards for their designs. In 2001, they received the Outstanding Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in North Carolina. They won seven more AIA design awards in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, Contract Magazine named The Freelon Group "The Designer of the Year."

Designing a National Museum

In 2009, Phil Freelon and his partners were chosen for a huge project. They were selected to design the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. This was a unanimous decision, meaning everyone agreed.

The museum has five floors above ground and four floors below. It includes a cafe, learning areas, and many exhibition halls. There are also galleries and a theater inside.

In 2014, The Freelon Group joined a larger company called Perkins + Will. Phil Freelon then became a director on their board. He also led their North Carolina office.

Awards and Special Recognition

Phil Freelon received many important awards for his work:

• Named "Designer of the Year" by Contract magazine in 2008.
• Won first prize in the PPG Furniture Design Competition.
• Received the AIA Thomas Jefferson Award for public architecture in 2009.
• Awarded the AIA North Carolina’s Gold Medal in 2010.
• Received the Design Guild Award from NC State University in 2012.
• Appointed to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in 2012.
• Became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
• Named Kea Distinguished Professor of Architecture at the University of Maryland in 2013.

His Lasting Impact

Phil Freelon's important papers are kept at North Carolina State University Libraries. To honor his amazing work, the Harvard Graduate School of Design created a special fund. It's called the Phil Freelon Fellowship Fund. This fund helps African American students and other students from under-represented groups study architecture. In 2017, Aria Griffin was the first student to receive this fellowship.

Personal Life

Phil Freelon's grandfather was Allan Randall Freelon, a painter. Phil was married to the singer Nnenna Freelon. They had three children: Deen, Maya, and Pierce.

In 2016, Phil Freelon was diagnosed with a serious illness called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He passed away on July 9, 2019, in Durham, North Carolina. He was 66 years old.