Sir David Adjaye OM OBE

Sir David Adjaye OM OBE is an award-winning Ghanaian-British architect known to infuse his artistic sensibilities and ethos for community-driven projects. His ingenious use of materials, bespoke designs and visionary sensibilities have set him apart as one of the leading architects of his generation.

In 2000, David founded his own practice, Adjaye Associates, which today operates globally, with studios in Accra, London, and New York taking on projects that span the globe. The firm's work ranges from private houses, bespoke furniture collections, product design, exhibitions, and temporary pavilions to major arts centers, civic buildings, and master plans.

His largest project to date, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, DC opened on the National Mall in 2016 and was named Cultural Event of the Year by The New York Times.

In 2017, Adjaye was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people of the year by TIME Magazine. Adjaye is also a recipient of the 2021 RIBA Royal Gold Medal, considered one of the highest honors in British architecture for significant contributions to the field internationally. In 2022, Adjaye was appointed to the Order of Merit, selected by Her Majesty the Queen, in recognition of distinguished service in his field. He is also the recipient of the World Economic Forum's 27th Annual Crystal Award, which recognizes his "leadership in serving communities, cities and the environment".

Born in 1966 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Adjaye's childhood saw stability in movement as his father Affram was a diplomat whose work took the family all over the world to places such as Kampala, Nairobi, Cairo, Beirut, Accra, and Jeddah. One of the many prolific projects that evolved out of David's travels is the 'Adjaye Africa Architecture: A Photographic Survey of Metropolitan Architecture', a ten-year project documenting fifty-four major African cities.

A formative moment in Adjaye's childhood was when he realized the inequities that his brother Emmanuel — who was partially paralyzed — faced when visiting his specialized school. This experience led him to understand that architecture should serve people and as a prevalent force within all our lives it too should take to the realm of egalitarianism.

Adjaye is on the Board of Patrons for the African Futures Institute, Accra.