Harry G. Robinson III
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Harry G. Robinson III (born January 18, 1942) is an American
architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
, and professor of architecture and Dean Emeritus of the School of Architecture and Design at
Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...
in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
He was a member of the
U.S. Commission of Fine Arts The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) is an independent agency of the federal government of the United States, and was established in 1910. The CFA has review (but not approval) authority over the "design and aesthetics" of all construction with ...
from 1994 to 2003, and served as its chairman from 2002 to 2003. He is also the first African American to be elected president of the
National Architectural Accrediting Board The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), established in 1940, is the oldest accrediting agency for architectural education in the United States. The NAAB accredits professional degrees in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. r ...
, and the first African American elected president of the
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is a nonprofit corporation comprising the legally constituted architectural registration boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puert ...
.


Early life and career

Robinson was born at
Freedman's Hospital Howard University Hospital, previously known as Freedmen's Hospital, is a major hospital located in Washington, D.C., built on the site of the previous Griffith Stadium. The hospital has served the African-American community in the area for over ...
Rouse, Deborah. "Building History."
''
Washington City Paper The ''Washington City Paper'' is a U.S. alternative weekly newspaper serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The ''City Paper'' is distributed on Thursdays; its average circulation in 2006 was 85,588. The paper's editorial mix is focu ...
''. March 21, 1997. Accessed 2012-10-17.
on January 18, 1942, in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, to Harry G. Robinson, Jr. and Gwendolyn Herriford Robinson.Geracimos, Ann. "Harry G. Robinson III." ''Washington Times.'' October 3, 1989."Obituaries." ''Washington Post.'' August 6, 1984."Robinson, III, Harry G." ''Who's Who Among African Americans.'' New York: Gale Research, 2009, p. 1020. He had an older sister, Joan. His family was intricately connected with Howard University, which was near the college's campus. His great-grandfather, James Henry Hill, joined the faculty at Howard University in 1879.Trescott, Jacqueline. "The Education of Howard." ''Washington Post.'' October 3, 1996. His grandmother, Mamie Hill Robinson, graduated from Howard's teachers college in 1887.Robinson III, Harry G. "Growing Up at–and With–Howard University." ''Washington Post.'' February 20, 1986. His father was born in 1908 in a home where Howard University's William H. Greene Stadium now stands. His father often boasted of being "born on Howard's 50 yard line".Stevens, Joann. "New Howard Deans Aim to Help Restore Campus Glory." ''Washington Post.'' September 27, 1979. His grandmother later sold the property to the university for $10. Robinson's father graduated from Howard in 1934, and played varsity basketball there. His mother worked at the Howard University school of dentistry, his aunt taught social work there, and Colonel James Hill Robinson (his uncle and a graduate of the
United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
) was an associate dean of architecture there when Robinson was an undergraduate. Another 24 family members also attended Howard.Forgey, Benjamin. "Howard's Path to the Future." ''Washington Post.'' March 15, 1997. Robinson was nicknamed "Butch" while growing up. Robinson's early years were spent living in an apartment at 2715
Georgia Avenue Georgia Avenue is a major north-south artery in Northwest Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland. Within the District of Columbia and a short distance in Silver Spring, Maryland, Georgia Avenue is also U.S. Route 29. Both Howard Unive ...
NW near Howard University (across the street from his grandparents' home). Robinson often played on the campus, riding a wagon down and sledding on its hills, and learning to swim in its pool. When he entered James Monroe Elementary School, the family moved north to Farragut Street NW. He attended Benjamin Banneker Junior High School (now
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Benjamin Banneker Academic High School is a magnet high school located in Washington, D.C., that was originally built to serve as a neighborhood Junior High School. The school's name commemorates Benjamin Banneker, an African-American scientist, s ...
), a racially segregated, all-black school, in 1953. But after the Supreme Court's 1954 decision in ''
Brown v. Board of Education ''Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka'', 347 U.S. 483 (1954), was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional, even if the segrega ...
'', 347 U.S. 483, he attended racially integrated MacFarland Junior High School. Robinson graduated from Howard University in 1966 with a
Bachelor of Architecture The Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) is a bachelor's degree designed to satisfy the academic requirement of practising architecture around the world. Australia Architectural education in Australia varies depending on the university offering th ...
degree (with design honors). Robinson joined the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
after graduation, became an officer, and served a tour of duty as a 2nd Lieutenant engineer in
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
in 1967 during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...
.McCombs, Phil. "The Memorial's Moment of Truce." ''Washington Post.'' February 9, 1983. He received the Bronze Star Medal and a
Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...
, and promoted to
first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...
. He received his
Master of City Planning Urban planning education is a practice of teaching and learning urban theory, studies, and professional practices. The interaction between public officials, professional planners and the public involves a continuous education on planning process. ...
(MCP) from Howard in 1970."Harry G. Robinson." The History Makers. November 19, 2003.
Accessed 2012-10-17.
He then enrolled at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
, where he obtained an MCP in urban design in 1972 from the Graduate School of Design. Robinson began his career working as an urban planner for the D.C. Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA) from 1968 to 1972.


Teaching career

Robinson's teaching career began when he taught architecture at the
University of the District of Columbia The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is a public historically black land-grant university in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1851 and is the only public university in the city. UDC is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall ...
from 1969 to 1970 and again from 1971 to 1974. He then taught architecture at
Morgan State College Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known a ...
in
Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
, from 1972 to 1979. At the time of his departure, he was associate dean of urban planning. While at Morgan State, Robinson received several federal grants to study urban planning, and developed graduate programs in architecture and urban planning. Morgan State became the first
historically black college or university Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. ...
to be recognized by the
American Institute of Planners The American Planning Association (APA) is a professional organization representing the field of urban planning in the United States. APA was formed in 1978, when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Pla ...
. He founded and was director of the Center for Built Environment Studies, an interdisciplinary program in architecture, city planning, landscape architecture, and urban design. Robinson came to teach at Howard University after delivering a lecture there in February 1979. Impressed with his knowledge and force of personality, students formed a committee to investigate his background, then met with faculty to discuss their findings. The joint student-faculty group then petitioned Howard University President James E. Cheek to hire Robinson as the next dean of the School of Architecture and Planning. Robinson joined Howard in September 1979. During his tenure as dean, he expanded the curriculum, organized the African American Architect Initiative, and established a program to encourage D.C. schoolchildren to choose a career in urban design and planning. Robinson has long advocated equal access for African-American architects, but argues that black architects should seek work where they can get it. "I don't want to ask for anything. It's embarrassing to me," he told '' Newsday'' in 1991. "I have a new sense of being a radical. I really had to, with the barrage of negative press and complaints of what we don't have. I'm tired of it. ... We simply aren't going to get large corporate work. That's a different network. But we have our own network. We have the black church, we have the black sororities and fraternities. Of course we want equal access, but no profession is without its barriers." Robinson was named Howard University's Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for University Administration in 1995."Harry G. Robinson III." News Room. Howard University. No date.
Accessed 2012-10-17.
During this time, he sponsored a process to craft a campus master plan. The plan, called "UniverCity 20/20," neared completion in 1997. When Howard Hall was renovated in 1996, he saved bricks and wood from the historica building to sell as fund-raisers for the university capital campaign. Robinson planned an extensive campaign to educate university alumni about Howard University's history as a means of engaging them in his fund-raising drive. Many alumni and students, he said, did not have a clear understanding of how unique Howard is. "I tell the students every fall, 'If you just want an education, go home and go to a fine state school.'" Robinson stepped down as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1997."President Names Appointees to the Commission on Fine Arts." Press release. Office of the President. The White House. April 14, 1999. He continued at Howard as the James E. Silcott Professor of Architecture.


Government service

Robinson is a long-time member of the board of directors of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which helped to build and now maintains the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a U.S. national memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring service members of the U.S. armed forces who served in the Vietnam War. The site is dominated by two black granite walls engraved with the names of those ...
. In 1981, when the memorial's Memorial Wall design was approved by the memorial jury, controversy erupted over the
Minimalist In visual arts, music and other media, minimalism is an art movement that began in post– World War II in Western art, most strongly with American visual arts in the 1960s and early 1970s. Prominent artists associated with minimalism include Do ...
design. In January 1982, a new element—a realistic bronze sculpture by Frederick Hart known as ''
The Three Soldiers ''The Three Soldiers'' (also known as ''The Three Servicemen'') is a bronze statue by Frederick Hart. Unveiled on Veterans Day, November 11, 1984, on the National Mall, it is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial commemorating the Vietnam W ...
''—was added to the memorial. In October 1982, the Commission of Fine Arts approved the erection of a flagpole to be grouped with ''The Three Soldiers''. Controversy continued over both how close ''The Three Soldiers'' should be to the Memorial Wall, and whether the flagpole should be erected. Robinson opposed putting the statues near the wall, saying this "would impose its imagery upon the visitor's experience and weaken the impact..." He criticized the flagpole as "an intrusion into the tranquil horizontal space of the meadow and the awe-inspiring quality of the wall." Robinson was appointed a member of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in 1994 and served until 2003."Members of the Commission." U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. October 3, 2012.
Accessed 2012-10-15.
He was the commission's vice chairman from 2000 to 2002,Robinson III, Harry G. "Right Place, Right Memorial." ''Washington Post.'' July 23, 2000. and its chairman from 2002 to 2003. Robinson was a member of the CFA during the contentious decision over the siting of the
National World War II Memorial The World War II Memorial is a national memorial in the United States dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The memorial consists ...
in the 1990s. Robinson strongly endorsed a proposal to put the memorial in a traffic circle on Columbia Island at the foot of
Arlington Memorial Bridge The Arlington Memorial Bridge is a Neoclassical masonry, steel, and stone arch bridge with a central bascule (or drawbridge) that crosses the Potomac River at Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. First proposed in 1886, the brid ...
. He also voiced strong views about the Washington Metro's decision to place glass-and-steel canopies over all Metro station entrances. When Metro brought its design before the CFA, Robinson said, "Not only is it dull, it's offensive."Forgey, Benjamin. "Metro's Chance to Make A Grand Entrance." ''Washington Post.'' July 29, 2000. Robinson led the commission in strongly criticizing the canopies. "Metro cannot build what they have shown us," he said in July 2000. "It isn't going to happen." Robinson was similarly dismissive of a 2002 plan by the National Park Service to build a underground visitors center and long tunnel beneath the grounds of the
Washington Monument The Washington Monument is an obelisk shaped building within the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army (1775–1784) in the American Revolutionary War and th ...
. Robinson and the CFA had unanimously endorsed the plan in December 2001, but voiced strong doubts about it in May 2002. "Maybe the best tourist experience of the Washington Monument is not by walking through a tunnel into it," Robinson said, concluding that little security was achieved by forcing people to walk through a tunnel beneath the monument.Hsu, Spencer S. "Arts Panel Drops Backing Of Underground Center." ''Washington Post.'' May 17, 2002. The Park Service withdrew the plans. Robinson had high praise for the headquarters of the
United States Institute of Peace The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is an American federal institution tasked with promoting conflict resolution and prevention worldwide. It provides research, analysis, and training to individuals in diplomacy, mediation, and other pea ...
, however.
Moshe Safdie Moshe Safdie ( he, משה ספדיה; born July 14, 1938) is an architect, urban planner, educator, theorist, and author, with Israeli, Canadian, and American citizenship. He is known for incorporating principles of socially responsible des ...
's design for a seven-story structure shaped like a curving capital letter V, enclosing a vast atrium covered by wing-like white canopies, was the architect's first American building. Robinson called the building an "exciting, exuberant statement of the importance of peace." In December 1995, Robinson was named chairman of a 14-member ad hoc panel established by President
Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
to propose a redesign of the closed segment of
Pennsylvania Avenue Pennsylvania Avenue is a diagonal street in Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland, that connects the White House and the United States Capitol and then crosses the city to Maryland. In Maryland it is also Maryland Route 4 (MD 4 ...
NW between the White House and Lafayette Square. The panel proposed a "town square" idea that would remove the pavement and plant a field of grass, as well as add retail, food service, and educational kiosks to make the area a more attractive gathering place. Unsightly security barriers would be replaced with more decorative planters, access points to Lafayette Square would be widened into better gateways to the park, star-like paving would be used throughout the park, and tour buses would be banned from the area.Forgey, Benjamin. "Street at a Crossroads." ''Washington Post.'' May 25, 1996. The panel's design plan extended these decorative motifs several blocks in every direction from the White House. But the
National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propert ...
rejected the interim plan in favor of a long-term design.Fehr, Stephen C. "Grass Loses Ground on Pennsylvania." ''Washington Post.'' March 23, 1996. (As of 2012, no long-term plan has been proposed.)


Other roles

Robinson co-founded TRG Consulting in 1976, and remained with the firm as of 2009. Robinson is a founding director of the Washington Arts Consortium, was a trustee and secretary of the National Building Museum,Smith, Todd. "Movers and Shakers." ''Washington Times.'' August 15, 1991. and a trustee of the Cooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum. He is also an advisor to the
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, based on the history of the Underground Railroad. Opened in 2004, the Center also pays tribute to all efforts to "abolish human enslavement and secure fr ...
. In 1995, Robinson led the UNESCO International Commission on the Goree Memorial and Museum, which selected architects to design the
House of Slaves The House of Slaves (''Maison des Esclaves'') and its Door of No Return is a museum and memorial to the victims of the Atlantic slave trade on Gorée Island, 3 km off the coast of the city of Dakar, Senegal. Its museum, which was opened in 19 ...
museum and memorial on the island of
Gorée (; "Gorée Island"; Wolof: Beer Dun) is one of the 19 (i.e. districts) of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is an island located at sea from the main harbour of Dakar (), famous as a destination for people interested in the Atlantic slave trad ...
, off the coast of
Dakar Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from :wo:daqaar, daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar ...
,
Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
. Robinson served three three-year terms as chairman of the District of Columbia Board of Architecture and Interior Design, and is a former member of the Board of Professional Responsibility for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He is also a past president of the
National Architectural Accrediting Board The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), established in 1940, is the oldest accrediting agency for architectural education in the United States. The NAAB accredits professional degrees in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. r ...
and the
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is a nonprofit corporation comprising the legally constituted architectural registration boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puert ...
. He is the first African American to be elected to both of these positions. Robinson was a director of Scenic America, a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, and a member of the Architectural Research Institute. He is a director of the White House Historical Association, a member of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and previously served on the National Research Council's Committee of High Performance Sustainable Federal Buildings."Competition Jury." Trust for the National Mall. 2012.
Accessed 2012-10-16.
In 2010, Robinson was named an executive consulting architect for the
American Battle Monuments Commission The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is an independent agency of the United States government that administers, operates, and maintains permanent U.S. military cemeteries, memorials and monuments primarily outside the United States. ...
. He was the first African American to serve in this position. Robinson is a member of the
Committee of 100 on the Federal City The Committee of 100 on the Federal City, locally referred to as the Committee of 100, is a private, nonprofit membership organization which promotes responsible land use and planning in Washington, D.C., and advocates adherence to the L'Enfant P ...
.


Honors and professional positions

Robinson was a 1969–1970 Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow at the
Woodrow Wilson Foundation The Woodrow Wilson Foundation was an educational non-profit created in 1921, organized under the laws of New York, for the "perpetuation of Wilson's ideals" via periodic grants to worthy groups and individuals. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the chai ...
, and a 1969-1970
United States Department of Transportation The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States a ...
Urban Transportation Research Fellow. In 1991, he received a partial
Fulbright Fellowship The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...
to study at
Copperbelt University The Copperbelt University is a public university in Kitwe, Zambia. It is the second largest public university after The University of Zambia. The language of instruction at the university is English. Overview The Copperbelt University is a public ...
in Kitwe,
Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...
. He is a
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-member ...
, and holds honorary membership in the Colegio de Arquitectos de Mexico, Sociedad de Arquitectos Mexicanos, and the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects. Robinson is the recipient of numerous awards. Robinson won the
American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...
' Whitney M. Young Jr. Award in 1990. He received the
Richard T. Ely Richard Theodore Ely (April 13, 1854 – October 4, 1943) was an American economist, author, and leader of the Progressive movement who called for more government intervention to reform what they perceived as the injustices of capitalism, especial ...
Distinguished International Educator Award from the Lambda Alpha International honorary society for the advancement of land economics in 1991. He was given the Honor Award from the National Organization of Minority Architects in 1991, and a special award in 1992. Hampton University bestowed its 125th Anniversary Citation for Leadership In Architecture on him in 1993. In 2003, Robinson received the Centennial Medal of the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (the organization's highest honor). He is a recipient of the District of Columbia Council of Engineering and Architecture Societies Architect of the Year award and the Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Science Distinguished Alumni Award for International Leadership. He was inducted into the Washington, D.C., Hall of Fame in 2006. Howard University honored him with the Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement award, the highest alumni honor bestowed by the university, in 2008. He also received the Silver Medal from the D.C. chapter of the Tau Sigma Delta Architectural Honor Society.


Publications

In 1997, Robinson and Hazel Ruth Edwards co-authored ''The Long Walk: The Placemaking Legacy of Howard University,'' a history of Howard University with a special focus on its campus.Roberts, Fletcher. "A Walk Through 130 Years of Howard's History." ''New York Times.'' April 6, 1997.
Accessed 2012-10-15.


Personal life

Robinson is married to local radio station executive Dianne Robinson. They have three daughters: Erin, Leigh, and Kia.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Harry G., III Living people Artists from Washington, D.C. Howard University alumni Harvard Graduate School of Design alumni African-American architects Architects from Washington, D.C. Howard University faculty 1942 births Fellows of the American Institute of Architects 20th-century American architects Copperbelt University alumni Benjamin Banneker Academic High School alumni 20th-century African-American artists 21st-century African-American people