African Americans and Labor in Architecture
Guest Author: Sierra Ivy (Fourth-Year Architecture Student at Ball State University)
Next Great Architects is a teaching studio that uses history to educate and inspire. The 2025 theme for Black History Month focused on African Americans and labor. Without laborers, architecture would remain the imagination of the architect. The laborers use their craft to bring the creativity of the architect to life.
Throughout history, Black laborers, inventors, and builders have made significant contributions to defining the built environment. Their work has had a long-lasting influence on architecture, from inventing construction methods to transforming vital housing systems. Adrienne Bennett, Moses McKissack, Alice Parker, and John P. Thompson are the four Black pioneers we will be honoring this Black History Month.
Adrienne Bennett: Master Plumber
Adrienne Bennett's path of becoming the first African American female master plumber in the United States exemplifies tenacity and perseverance. Bennett was born in Chicago and raised in Detroit in the 1960s, where she initially studied metallurgical engineering at Lawrence Technological University. Her path shifted in 1976 when she attended a political event and met a recruiter from the Mechanical Contractors Association of Detroit, who piqued her interest in plumbing.
Bennett advanced from apprentice to journeyman plumber, eventually getting her master plumber license. She was employed by the city of Detroit as a plumbing inspector and code enforcement officer due to her abilities. Bennett played a key part in Detroit's rehabilitation efforts in 2008 by founding Benkari LLC, a contracting firm that specializes in green building solutions. In addition to breaking down barriers, her efforts have made sure that many buildings now have safe and effective plumbing systems.
Moses McKissack III and McKissack & McKassack: Architectural Innovators
Born in 1879, Moses McKissack III came from a family of builders that began with his grandpa, an Ashanti ancestor who became a master builder while enslaved in the United States. In Nashville, Tennessee, Moses opened his construction firm in 1905. In 1908, he received his first significant commission. The Carnegie Library at Fisk University was the nation's first significant structure built by an African American architect. McKissack & McKissack was founded in 1922 by Moses and his brother, Calvin Lunsford McKissack. The firm became one of the first African-American-owned architectural practices in the United States, as well as the first to be registered in Tennessee. Their portfolio consists of numerous facilities such as residences, schools, and churches, which have had a considerable impact on the region's architecture. Notably, they won the largest federal contract ever given to an African American company during World War II. A $5.8 million deal to design and construct the Tuskegee Airmen's airbase in Alabama. As a result of their history, McKissack & McKissack is still a well-known name in engineering, design, and construction.
Alice Parker: Innovator of the Natural Gas Furnace
Alice Parker's invention of a natural gas-powered furnace in 1919 marked a dramatic shift from the conventional wood-burning methods used for residential heating. Her plan included a central heating system that improved safety and energy efficiency by distributing warm air to each room via ducts. By laying the foundation for contemporary central heating systems, Parker's invention enhanced domestic architecture's comfort and standard of living.
John Thomson: Inventor of the Bricklaying Machine
John P. Thomson's creation of a bricklaying machine had a significant effect on construction efficiency. Thomson's machine, which was patented in 1904, greatly accelerated construction projects and decreased worker intensity by mechanizing the brick-laying process. His invention influenced the way structures were constructed and opened the door for contemporary construction automation, which helped building processes advance. The image is the first figure in his patent application. To see the entire application click the image.
African American inventors in architecture and related industries have had a significant impact, as these pioneers demonstrate. In addition to advancing construction techniques, their hard work and creativity have dismantled obstacles and motivated upcoming generations to contribute to the constantly changing built environment.
Next Great Architects is an award-winning teaching studio that introduces architecture to students as early as kindergarten and nurtures them through college and licensure. Contact us if you are interested in bringing our programs to your children, schools, or organizations.