Philip G. Freelon, FAIA, is founder and president of The Freelon Group Inc., which consists of 45 professionals in Research Triangle Park and Charlotte, N.C., offices. His team works to provide quality design solutions for projects both large and small.

Phil Freelon is a native of Philadelphia. Following graduation from North Carolina State University’s College of Design with a Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) and top design honors, he went on to earn his Master of Architecture degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. Phil worked as a designer for firms in Boston and Houston, returning to North Carolina in 1982 to join the firm of O’Brien/Atkins Associates where he served as a senior designer, project manager and Vice President of Architecture for the 140 person firm. He left O’Brien/Atkins in 1990 to start his firm.

Since its inception, The Freelon Group has grown from one individual to 45 total staff (18 licensed architects) with offices in Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina. Focusing on K-12 schools, college and university, aviation and museum projects, Freelon’s firm has successfully delivered buildings that have had a positive impact on the communities in which they are built. Currently, The Freelon Group is the lead architect for The Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, CA and is leading a joint venture (Freelon/RTKL) for the design of the Maryland Museum of African American History and Culture in Baltimore, MD. Recently, Freelon was selected by the President’s Commission on the National Museum of African American History and Culture to advise Chairman Wright on the planing of this new facility to be located on or near the Mall in Washington, DC. Mr. Freelon’s firm has also consulted with the African American Museum in Philadelphia on the feasibility of a new vs. renovated facility.

As a designer, Philip Freelon’s work has received AIA awards and has been published in Progressive Architecture and Architectural Record. His furniture design (pictured here) has been recognized nationally including first prize in the PPG Furniture Design Competition and a design contract with Herman Miller. The Freelon Group has received no less than seven AIA design awards (state and local) and has also received the North Carolina AIA Outstanding Firm Award for 2001.  Freelon was elevated to fellowship in May, 2003 at the AIA National Convention in San Diego.

Freelon’s impact on the profession extends beyond his individual and firm achievements. He has served as an adjunct professor at the College of Design, North Carolina State University, having taught architectural design studio, photography and professional practice. In 1989, Freelon was the recipient of the prestigious Loeb Fellowship and spent a year of independent study at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He has lectured at Harvard University, Howard University, NC State University, Hampton University and the California College of Arts and Crafts among others. Freelon is the recipient of the 2002 Distinguished Alumni award from the College of Design, NC State University, and will deliver their commencement address in May of 2003.

In addition to his AIA state and local involvement, Freelon has been a seminar presenter at the AIA national convention and is a founding member of the North Carolina chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects.