Blueprints of Change: The Impact of Black Leaders in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

The contributions of Black architects, engineers, and builders have shaped the world around us in ways we often don’t realize. We owe so much to pioneers like Samuel Plato, Henry A. Tandy, Vertner Woodson Tandy, and Beverly Lorraine Greene, who overcame barriers to leave a lasting mark on the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Samuel Plato built homes, and federal buildings that still stand today, while Henry A. Tandy’s craftsmanship helped create some of Kentucky’s most treasured landmarks. Vertner Woodson Tandy became New York’s first Black registered architect, paving the way for others, and Beverly Lorraine Greene broke barriers as the first Black woman licensed as an architect in the U.S.

Their work continues to inspire, reminding us to honor their legacy and build upon the foundation they laid. Let’s take a look at the profound impact these trailblazers have had on the AEC world.

Henry A. Tandy (1853-1913)

Henry A. Tandy was born in Estill County before slavery was abolished. After the Civil War, he moved to Lexington to forge his own path. He began his journey as an apprentice to photographer John Mullen, an exciting and new technology at the time, but he ultimately found professional success in construction, working for the contracting firm Garret D. Wilgus. Tandy rose to the position of foreman and ultimately went on to lead the company with his future business partner, Albert Byrd–an extraordinary accomplishment during the Jim Crow era.

Following Wilgus’ passing, Tandy & Byrd was established, with Tandy serving as the business manager and Byrd as foreman. Their firm was responsible for the brickwork on many of Lexington’s significant buildings like the Lexington Courthouse, Miller Hall at the University of Kentucky, and Roark and Sullivan Halls at Eastern Kentucky University. Tandy is also accredited with the brick entryway for the Lexington Opera House on Broadway.

Recognized as one of the most successful African Americans in Kentucky at a time of systemic racial barriers, Tandy’s legacy lives on. In 2020, Lexington’s Parks Advisory Board voted unanimously to rename Cheapside Park—once a major slave trade site—after him, now known as Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park.

Samuel Plato (1882-1957)

Samuel Plato made a lasting impact on the architecture, construction, and engineering industries as one of the first African American architectural designers and builders. Based in Louisville, KY, he attended State University (now Simmons College of Kentucky) and later enrolled in architecture courses at the International Correspondence School in Pennsylvania.

Plato’s career included the designing and building of nearly 40 post offices, craftsman homes, mansions, churches, schools, and theaters across the U.S. Eight of his buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He was also one of the few to build defense housing projects during World War II. Working in a time when Black professionals faced widespread discrimination, Plato had to adapt—he even learned to draw upside down because he was forced to sit across the table from white colleagues rather than beside them.

Beyond his architectural achievements, Plato was deeply committed to fighting for equality. While living in Marion, IN, he fought to integrate building trade unions for African American workers. He and his wife, Elnora, also supported many of their nieces and nephews through school and even employed them on his projects in Louisville. Passionate about inspiring young architects and engineers, Plato served as a special lecturer at Howard University’s School of Engineering and Architecture and was a repeat speaker at Tuskegee and Hampton Institutes.

Vertner Woodson Tandy (1885-1949)

Vertner Woodson Tandy is a well-known name in architecture. Born in Lexington, KY, in 1885 to Henry Tandy, he inherited his father’s passion for craftsmanship and breaking barriers.

Tandy became the first registered Black architect in New York, where he designed landmarks like the St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan. He was also well known for his residential designs, most notably the Villa Lewaro, the mansion of entrepreneur and philanthropist Madame C.J. Walker, built during the Harlem Renaissance. His achievements earned him distinction as well as membership in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1945.

Prior to his impressive career, Tandy studied at Tuskegee Institute and later at Cornell University. There, he co-founded Alpha Phi Alpha, the first African American fraternity, with six other classmates, the founders are known as the “7 Jewells.” Alpha Phi Alpha included members such as Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Adam Clayton Powell, and W.E.B. DuBois.

Beverly Lorraine Greene (1915-1957)

Born in Chicago in 1915, Beverly Lorraine Greene was a trailblazer in many aspects of her life. Greene made history at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as the first Black woman to earn a master’s degree in architecture and later became the first Black woman licensed as an architect in the U.S.

Greene began her career working for the Chicago Housing Authority, focusing on designing housing for marginalized communities—a cause she was deeply passionate about. Despite encountering systemic racism and sexism, she refused to be deterred. Taking the challenges head on, she moved to New York in 1945 and soon earned a fellowship at Columbia University, specializing in urban planning.

A few of Greene’s notable projects include her work on the Ida B. Wells Housing Project in Chicago and the UNESCO United Nations HQ in Paris. While working on the UNESCO House, she had the opportunity to collaborate with renowned architects Wallace K. Harrison and Le Corbusier.

The legacies of Samuel Plato, Henry A. and Vertner Woodson Tandy, and Lorraine Beverly Greene serve as powerful reminders of resilience, innovation, and excellence in the face of great adversity. They inspire future generations of architects, engineers, and builders while their contributions continue to shape the construction world. By honoring their work, we continue to recognize the importance of diversity in the AEC industries and reaffirm our commitment to making Gray a place where we treat others the way we want to be treated, where everyone is welcome and respected.