Foundations of Legacy: Larry C. Johnson, Sr., AIA, and the Untold Story of Black Architects in AIA New Jersey.
Posted on Jul. 9, 2025 / Subscribe 0
On June 24, 2025, in celebration of AIA New Jersey’s 125th anniversary, the AIA NJ Equity in Architecture Committee hosted Foundations of Legacy: Larry C. Johnson, Sr., AIA, and the Untold Story of Black Architects in AIA New Jersey. This special webinar offered a powerful conversation with Larry C. Johnson, Sr., AIA—an accomplished architect whose career spans over five decades and reflects a deep commitment to shaping communities across the region.
The discussion, moderated by Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, Chair of the Equity in Architecture Committee, and AIA New Jersey Past President William Brown, III, FAIA, NOMAC, explored the personal and professional legacy of Mr. Johnson, beginning with his early role as the first employee of Brown and Hale Architects—the first African American architectural firm in New Jersey. Founded in 1960, the firm served as a critical launchpad for emerging professionals and became a key influence in Mr. Johnson’s development.
Mr. Johnson shared insights from his extensive career, which began after his graduation from the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts and his honorable service in the U.S. Marine Corps. Over the years, he worked toward licensure through night classes and hands-on experience, eventually becoming a licensed architect in four states and a professional planner in New Jersey.
From his early work drafting residential homes to leading major civic, educational, transportation, and religious projects, Mr. Johnson played a central role in shaping New Jersey’s built environment. As a founding partner of Johnson Jones Architects Planners, Inc., he helped lead design and construction efforts on numerous large-scale projects, including the New Jersey State House, public schools in Newark, Plainfield, and Trenton, transit facilities, and housing developments across the mid-Atlantic region. In later years, he continued his professional practice through BORJON L.L.C., a family-run design and development firm.
The event honored not only Mr. Johnson’s individual accomplishments but also the broader contributions of architects whose stories have too often gone unrecognized. His reflections on perseverance, mentorship, and the power of community offered a meaningful look at the legacy that continues to shape the profession today.
To see the full presentation, please click HERE.
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