The Legacy of Robert P. Madison, FAIA
Robert P. Madison, FAIA
On July 17, 1954, Madison established the Robert P. Madison International architectural firm in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the first black-owned architectural firm in Midwestern United States. The firm initially struggled financially due to the progressive foundation of the company. In 1957, the firm entered every design competition announced and won Third Prize and Honorable Mention in the Ohio Home Competition. In 1958 the firm's design of the Mount Pleasant Medical Center won 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, West Africa. Its design won an award and recognition by the U.S. Department of State Foreign Building Operations. Madison has stated that this achievement was one of his proudest moments. According to Crain's Cleveland Business, Robert P. Madison International is ranked no. 9 among architecture firms in northeast Ohio,
He retired in 2016.
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.
