Atlanta’s Trailblazing Architects: Love Story and Enduring Legacy

This article profiles Bill Stanley and Ivenue Love-Stanley, the first Black graduates of Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture after desegregation. It traces their decades-long partnership, landmark projects, and ongoing commitment to education and equity in architecture and engineering.

From campus romance to a transformative firm founded in 1978, their work spans civic, educational, and cultural building types. They have paired Black and White firms on high-profile projects while mentoring the next generation of designers.

A Trailblazing Partnership and Firm Milestones

In an era of significant barriers, Stanley, Love-Stanley PC emerged as a model of collaboration and design excellence. The couple’s alliance began on a college campus and matured into a lifelong partnership.

This partnership led to a practice that remains active into their seventies. Their success is highlighted by joint ventures, including a 50/50 arrangement on the 1996 Olympic aquatic center and a three-way collaboration that produced the iconic canopy at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The firm built a diverse portfolio that balanced public and educational facilities with community-centered design. Their approach shows how a Black-White professional partnership can deliver high-quality architecture across sectors.

Notable Projects in Civic, Educational, and Cultural Sectors

The practice’s community impact is evident in a range of civic and educational buildings. These include libraries and campuses that serve as anchors for neighborhoods and institutions.

• Southwest Evelyn Lowery Library and the Peachtree Street Library, expanding access to public resources in Atlanta.
• Signature campus work at local HBCUs, including Spelman College’s president’s cottage, Morehouse College’s John Hope Hall and Mays Memorial, and Clark Atlanta University’s Biology and Trevor Arnett Halls.
• The New Horizon sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which introduced an Afro-centric building identity distinct from the original Gothic sanctuary.

Continuing Practice, Community Investment, and Education

The firm continues to bid for projects across a spectrum of typologies, from churches to schools. They maintain a lean, hands-on practice.

Today, the firm employs eight staff and remains active in pursuing new commissions. They are committed to mentorship for emerging professionals.

Stanley, Love-Stanley PC supports the broader design community through educational initiatives. The firm awards annual scholarships and internships to Georgia Tech students of African descent—one undergraduate and one graduate—recognizing the most improved student and fostering a pipeline of diverse talent into architecture and related fields.

A Vision for Afro-Centric Architecture

The practice has contributed to the cultural conversation around design identity. Their commissions and proposals foreground Afro-centric sensibilities within a modern architectural vocabulary.

This emphasis on cultural continuity complements their portfolio of public and institutional projects. Their work shows how architectural form can reflect community heritage while meeting functional needs.

Legacy and Ongoing Recognition

Looking ahead, Stanley and Love-Stanley are extending their impact beyond the built environment through contemporary projects and commemorative work.

Notably, they are designing an exhibit for Hartsfield-Jackson’s Concourse D to honor Michael Hollis, the owner of the Black-owned Air Atlanta in the 1980s.

This exhibit highlights the pivotal role of Black entrepreneurship in Atlanta’s aviation and architectural history.

The initiative reinforces the firm’s commitment to storytelling through design and sparks conversations about equity and representation in the architectural profession.

For practitioners in architecture and engineering, the story of Stanley, Love-Stanley PC offers a blueprint for collaboration and community engagement.

It shows how a practice can balance prestigious projects with social impact while honoring a legacy of desegregation and inclusive practice.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Breaking barriers: The love story and legacy of Atlanta’s trailblazing architects