Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Madison.
Hi Maya, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Sure, my name is Maya Madison and I am one of the few licensed Black female architects in the country. There are currently fewer than 600 Black female architects in the United States and African Americans make up only 2% of all architects in the nation. With that said, I’ve always been a creative. Growing up, I loved art and created drawings, paintings, and sculptures. My parents really fueled my talent and love of drawing by making sure I was enrolled in art classes and purchasing the supplies I needed. With both of my parents being architects and creatives themselves, they’ve always supported my passion for art and design.
Once I got to high school, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the creative field. Other subjects that interested me in school were math and English, and I especially excelled in math. While I was mainly looking for colleges that either had fashion or graphic design programs, it was my high school guidance counselor who suggested that I also prioritize schools that offered architecture. She explained that architecture merges art, math, and science and that it could be a good career fit considering my talents. She also emphasized that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and to her credit, she was right. My parents agreed that the skills I would learn to design a building would translate to being able to design almost anything.
Ultimately, I decided to look at architecture schools in addition to other design professions, but when I visited the School of Architecture at Syracuse University, I fell in love with the program. When they gave me an academic scholarship to attend, I enrolled in the architecture school, which was the beginning of my zeal for the profession.
Since graduating college, I have worked on a variety of buildings and project types ranging from single-family homes to a 58-story commercial skyscraper. My love for the work I do continues to evolve and grow over time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My road to becoming an architect had several bumps in the road. Architecture school was particularly challenging in that although my parents and many family members were architects (both my grandfather and great uncle were architects) there wasn’t much that I knew about the profession. There were multiple times throughout architecture school when I felt like I didn’t belong and many times when I questioned my ability to become an architect due to the rigorous schooling and the all-nighters that we had to pull to perfect our projects.
The fact that architecture is embedded within my family history was all I needed to know that I belonged in the profession, regardless of whether I looked like the majority of my classmates and colleagues or not. Having parents and close family members as architects has been a huge privilege and the key to me believing in myself, specifically in a profession with fewer than 600 licensed Black female architects in the entire country.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Robert P. Madison International Inc.?
Robert P. Madison International Inc. (RPMI) is an architecture, interior, and planning design firm. It was the first Black-owned architecture firm in Ohio, founded by my great uncle and our company’s namesake, Robert P. Madison in 1954. The firm is currently owned by my parents, Sandra and Kevin Madison, and their colleague Robert Klann. Coming up on our 70th year in business, RPMI has had a hand in designing several buildings in Cleveland and in other cities. Some of these include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which we are currently working on the expansion for), the Cleveland Browns Stadium, The Hilton Hotel, The Cleveland Public Library, and several public schools.
Today, our firm continues to specialize in a variety of project types and sizes, which include healthcare, museums, performing arts theaters, education, places of worship, commercial/retail, and residential buildings, to name a few. Our mantra is to improve lives through community-centered design and mentorship. RPMI’s main priority as architects and designers is to serve the communities our buildings reside and the people who use them. Since architecture is one of the few art forms that can shape the everyday lives of people, we have made it our duty to meet our clients and communities on a personal level when we design buildings and interior spaces with and for them.
RPMI continues and strives to work with underserved communities as our founder, Robert P. Madison, did in 1954. Working on meaningful projects that improve lives and collaborating with clients to make their goals a reality will always be our pride and joy.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I always like to say Cleveland raised me, but New York made me. As someone who currently resides in New York City but returns to Cleveland for work almost once a month, I feel like I get the best of both worlds. I love Cleveland for how personal, laid-back, and cozy the city is. Shaker Heights, the suburb right outside of Cleveland that I grew up in, gave me the resources to succeed and lifelong friends that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Where the city of Cleveland is lacking, especially in comparison to New York, is the lack of things to do. The city has certainly gotten better with having new restaurants and seemingly more free events than when I was growing up. While I don’t want Cleveland to become another New York, I think it has a long way to go in terms of cultivating spaces and events that are open to any and everyone. With that said, I will always be a Cavs fan.
Contact Info:
- Website: rpmadison.com
- Instagram: maya-architect
- Facebook: rpmiarchitects
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-madison-aia-noma-ncarb-88160a68/
Image Credits
Harold Erkins
