Firm History
Robert James Madison graduated in the first class of civil engineers from Howard University in 1922. Due to discrimination, he could not find work as an engineer. Instead, he taught mathematics at black colleges and universities including Selma University, Johnson C. Smith and his Alma Mater, Howard University. He was the first registered black engineer in the State of Ohio. When he moved his family to Cleveland Ohio in the 1940’s, his score on the civil service exam was the highest in history, however, because he was black, he was not hired as an engineer instead assigned as the foreman of dirt streets, which at the time was highest position a black man had ever attained in the city.
In 1954, Robert James Madison’s two oldest sons, Robert P. Madison, an architect, and Julian C. Madison, an engineer, followed in their father’s footsteps and opened the first an office that what would become one of America’s first black owned, architecture and engineering firms. Their youngest brother Bernard Madison, also an architect would join them in the 1960’s. The brothers grew the firm into one of the most prolific design firms in the country, having projects in over 20 states, The District of Columbia, the Caribbean, West Africa and the Middle East.
Julian C. Madison had a vision of a multi-disciplinary, multi-ethnic, inclusive firm, providing excellent technical services to its clients, opportunities for its employees to demonstrate their skills in an exciting and competitive environment, and a positive role model for young men and women of color throughout the world.
In the 1980’s Julian and his daughter Sharon, took this vision and applied it beyond architecture and engineering into program and construction management. After her father’s death, Sharon kept the family legacy and expanded its reach and services into real estate development and consulting, public/private partnerships and mentoring of young people, underrepresented women entrepreneurs in technical and STEM related fields.
Madison Madison International continues to shape the future of the built and human environment based on the values and principles passed down from the company’s founders.
We dedicate our work to the memory of these courageous pioneers.