Rodney Leon

Rodney Leon
Leon (fourth from left) at a Department of the Interior event in 2006
Alma mater	Pratt Institute School of Architecture Yale University
Occupation	Architect
Website	http://www.rodneyleon.com/home

Rodney Leon is an American architect. He is the founder of Rodney Leon Architect. He is the designer of the monument The Ark of Return, and the memorial for the New York City African Burial Ground National Monument.^[1] He specializes in urban planning projects in the United States of America, and abroad, projects with cultural, residential, and religious.^[2][3][4] He is a member of The Haitian Roundtable (HRT). It is an organization of the Haitian-American professionals committed to civic engagement as well as philanthropic endeavors to benefit Haiti. It was started in 2008.^[5]

Early life

Leon was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were immigrants from Haiti.^[6][7]

Career

In 1992, Leon received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute School of Architecture in New York City. In 1995, he received a Master of Architecture from Yale University. From 1998 to 2003, he was visiting design professor at Pratt Institute School of Architecture in New York City. In 2003 he was 2nd year design coordinator for Pratt in 2003. He is as an adjunct professor of advanced design since 2009. Since 2014 Leon is a capital and planning grants reviewer for the New York State Council of the Arts.^[8]

In 1998, Leon submitted a proposal to design the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. He was one of the five designers selected from 61 applicants. In 2005, he was designated the official designer for the monument. Rodney Leon was designer, and co-founder along with Nicole Hollant-Denis of the AARRIS Architects were chosen to build the $3 million permanent memorial. The memorial was built on the colonial-era burial ground of enslaved Africans in lower Manhattan, in New York City. The grave site was found in 1991.^[3][9][10]

Leon is the designer of The Ark of Return, a permanent memorial to victims of the Atlantic slave trade. His design was chosen by UNESCO as part of an international competition. It is installed at the United Nations Plaza in New York City, where it was unveiled on March 25, 2015 as part of the United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent and to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, Sam Kutesa the President of the United Nations General Assembly, and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller of Jamaica were the ribbon cutters during the unveiling ceremony.^[11]

Leon is a member of American Institute of Architects (AIA), and National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).^[12] Leon and Nicole Hollant-Denis are the principal architects for Belle Rive Residential Resort in Jacmel, Haiti. It is a private resort style residential development with 94 townhouses, tower apartments, and a 120-room four start hotel and private club.

Architectural projects

African Burial Ground (NYC) aerial view

Cultural designs

• The Ark of Return^[13]
• African Burial Ground Memorial^[14]
• Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts^[15]
• National Hip Hop Museum Master Plan^[16]
• Salvation Army Community Center in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn^[17]

Residential

• Belle Rive Residential Resort Master Plan^[18]
• River Front View^[19]
• Le Coeur Vert^[20]
• Haiti Softhouse^[21]
• Cycle of Life Housing^[22]

Religious

• Islamic Cultural Center^[23]
• French Evangelical Church^[24]
• Convent Avenue Baptist Church^[25]

Leon is a member of American Institute of Architects (AIA), and National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).^[12] Leon and Nicole Hollant-Denis are the principal architects for Belle Rive Residential Resort in Jacmel, Haiti. It is a private resort style residential development with 94 townhouses, tower apartments, and a 120-room four start hotel and private club.

References

1. "MAAP - Video View". Maap.columbia.edu. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
2. "UN unveils permanent memorial to victims of transatlantic slave trade". News.un.org. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
3. "Rodney Leon". Tnj.com. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
4. "United Nations International Design Competition Awarded to Noted Architect Rodney Leon to Honor Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade". Myoceanstyle.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
5. "About". Thehaitanroundtable.org. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
6. "The Angel Rock Project :: Angel of the Month: Rodney Leon". Angelrockproject.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
7. "Haitian American Architect Rodney Leon Slavery Memorial Unveiled at United Nations". Haitiantimes.com. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
8. "Rodney Leon". Thehaitianroundtable.org. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
9. "Design Selected for African Burial Ground". Npr.org. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
10. Rothstein, Edward (25 February 2010). "African Burial Ground, and Its Dead, Are Given Life". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
11. "FEATURE: Architect of UN slavery memorial explains 'The Ark of Return'". News.un.org. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
12. "20 Inspiring Minority Architects, Designers and Advocates for a More Diverse Profession - Architizer Journal". Journal. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
13. "The Ark of Return". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
14. "African Burial Ground Memorial". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
15. "Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
16. "National Hip Hop Museum Master Plan". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
17. Spellen, Suzanne (26 June 2014). "Building of the Day: 1149-1171 Bushwick Avenue". Brownstoner. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
18. "Belle Rive Residential Resort Master Plan". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
19. "River Front View Master Plan". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
20. "Le Coeur Vert". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
21. "Haiti Softhouse". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
22. "Cycle Of Life Housing". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
23. "Islamic Cultural Center Inc". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
24. "French Evangelical Church New York". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
25. "Convent Ave Baptist Church". Rodneyleon.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.

External links

• African Burial Ground Exterior Monument
• Ark of Return Brochure
• United Nations Ark of Return
• Architect Rodney Leon visits United Nations Headquarters
• Rodney's Journey: Making the ark of return
• The Ark of Return