The Legacy of Robert P. Madison, FAIA
On July 17, 1954, Robert P. Madison, FAIA, founded Robert P. Madison International in Cleveland, becoming the first Black-owned architectural firm in the Midwestern United States. In its early years, the firm faced financial challenges as it worked to establish itself within a profession that offered few opportunities to minority-owned practices at the time.
In 1957, the firm entered every announced design competition, earning Third Prize and an Honorable Mention in the Ohio Home Competition. The following year, its design for the Mount Pleasant Medical Center was recognized as Best Design by the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
In 1965, the firm was selected to design the U.S. Embassy Office Building in Dakar, Senegal. The project received an award and formal recognition from the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Buildings Operations, a milestone Madison later described as one of his most meaningful achievements.
According to Crain's Cleveland Business, Robert P. Madison International is ranked as Northeast Ohio’s 19th largest architecture firm. Madison retired in 2016, leaving behind a lasting legacy of leadership, resilience, and excellence in design.
Sandra Madison, AIA revised the firm mission statement to align with her own values upon taking Ownership in 2016:
Improving lives through award winning design, mentorship and service to community.
Robert P Madison International, Inc. is a longstanding architecture firm, reinvigorated by new Ownership, currently specializing in Architecture, Interior Design and Planning. This new drive and focus on mission has seen the firm win 2018, 2019 and 2020 Interior Design Awards from American School and University Magazine. Under Sandra’s leadership the firm was recognized in 2018 and 2019 by Weatherhead 100 as one of the fastest growing firms in Northeast Ohio and by the SBA as District Minority Owned Firm of the Year. The firm also offers professional services to Construction Manager at Risk (Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse) and Design Build Teams (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Expansion). The firm also offers Owners Representative Services as with the firm’s role for MetroHealth at the recently opened 32,000 square foot Metro Express Care at Urban Community School.
On March 18, 2016, Sandra Madison, AIA, NCARB (after 26 years with Robert P Madison International, Inc.) became Majority Owner and the firm’s new CEO & Chairperson. Today the firm is the largest black female owned architecture firm in the State of Ohio. When Robert P. Madison opened the firm on July 17, 1954 it was the first black owned architecture firm in the State of Ohio and only the tenth in the United States.
Sandra’s service and dedication to Cleveland has not gone unnoticed, as she has been recognized in the 2022 Cleveland 500 List, YWCA Greater Cleveland Woman of Achievement, a top CEO by Crain’s Cleveland Business, Progressive Woman Award by Smart Business, a top FBE by the OhioMBE Awards and the President’s Council Chamber Excellence Award.
The firm’s role in our City must be more than Architecture, the firm is here to encourage and mentor the youth (Sandra has served on the ACE Cleveland Mentor Board and currently on the Greater Cleveland Partnership Equity and Inclusion Board) and the firm is active in our community often providing pro-bono service to those organizations that align with our values.
Under new Ownership there is a revitalized drive behind the firm.
