DESMOND JOHNSON
Moody Nolan
SAY IT LOUD - Georgia
Georgia Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by the idea that my work will outlive me and may touch people / generations in ways that I never could, personally. I feel a deep sense of pride knowing that I’ll be able to leave a footprint on this city / world, and that inspires me.
DESMOND L. JOHNSON
Bio:
The great architect, Desmond Johnson is a registered architect currently practicing at the Atlanta regional office of Moody Nolan. He is a 2013 alum of Florida A&M University, where he received his B.S. in Architectural Studies; and a 2015 alum of Georgia Tech, where he received his Master of Architecture degree. Desmond has a broad range of experience in both the public and private sectors, where he has successfully contributed to and led mixed-use, multifamily, office, and urban design projects of varying scales.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I first learned about architecture through my stubborn love of and interest in buildings, despite not knowing any architects in my childhood. Buildings and cityscapes have always provoked an excitement in me, and I wanted to contribute to that.
What do you do?
I design buildings; I craft spaces; I shape neighborhoods; and I work to translate dreams into concrete (or steel/wood) realities. As an architect, I solve complex problems with creative solutions. I am a collaborator, hoping to become an innovator.
What excites you in the work you do?
I am most excited by the collaborative aspects of design. When collaborators bring diverse backgrounds and skillsets to a single design problem, the possibilities are endless. Design should be cooperative and expressive, not insular and repressive.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by the idea that my work will outlive me and may touch people / generations in ways that I never could, personally. I feel a deep sense of pride knowing that I’ll be able to leave a footprint on this city / world, and that inspires me.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
My proudest accomplishment is being appointed to the City of Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission. The work of the Commission directly affects the landscape of this city’s built environment for generations, and I’m humbled to contribute to that work.
Featured Project Name:
Morehouse School of Medicine Mixed-Use
Featured Project Location:
Atlanta, Georgia
Featured Project Completion Date:
2020
Role in Featured Project:
Project Designer / Project Architect
Featured Project Description:
The project is a mixed-use living and learning community on the campus of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta’s historic West End. The project will deliver housing, health and wellness, retail, and office space for the Atlanta University Center Consortium schools - the largest contiguous consortium of African-Americans in higher education in the United States. Sited at the highly visible corner of Lee Street and Park Street, the project will become the entrance gateway for the AUC community.
