Moody Nolan Atlanta is proud to welcome Garfield Peart, MBA, AIA, NOMA, as its director of operations. A seasoned professional with a passion for community-driven design, Garfield will draw upon his dynamic background to establish a strategic vision for the studio’s future. As director of operations, he will support initiatives across business development, marketing, project delivery, and operations, ensuring alignment with Moody Nolan’s overarching goals and values. Garfield hopes to cultivate a collaborative environment that provides team members with opportunities for professional growth, offering an abundance of resources to inspire, educate, and connect.

“Garfield brings invaluable experience to this role, pushing our teams towards new horizons and continuing to cultivate the relationship between architecture and community,” said Jonathan Moody, CEO and president. “Through his commitment to impact and inclusivity, Garfield will lead the strategic vision for the Atlanta office while embodying our values of responsive architecture and high-performance design.”

After completing his Bachelor of Architecture at Howard University, Garfield embarked on an impactful career that showcases his dedication to both architectural innovation and community engagement. Throughout his career, Garfield wore many hats. He spent the first seven years in the United States Air Force where he honed his skills on active duty, specifically in military project management, working on a slate of international projects from Washington, D.C. to cities across Europe. Following active duty, Garfield remained in the Air Force Reserve, and after 28 years of service, he retired from the United States Air Force this past June.

Garfield’s portfolio of work largely consists of projects in aviation and government, industries he looks forward to championing in his new role. When he came to Atlanta over 20 years ago, he held the role of deputy project manager at Leo A Daly upon his transition to private practice from active duty, where he led a driven team of 60 professionals on Atlanta’s first international terminal project. Garfield also engaged in Department of Defense (DOD) work, contributing significantly to construction master planning for the Army and Air Force. Now leading a respected office at Moody Nolan, which has worked on notable projects such as Roosevelt Hall and the Atlanta Central Library, Garfield aims to leverage the firm’s portfolio to expand its reach to HBCUs and mixed-use housing projects in Atlanta and beyond.

“As I close one chapter, ending my decades-long service as Lieutenant Colonel, I am thrilled to begin a new journey with Moody Nolan.” says Garfield. “I admire the team’s dedication to impacting lives through the built environment, and I look forward to having a hands-on role in bringing those projects to life for the communities we serve.”

Garfield obtained his master’s degree in green development and sustainable business from Marylhurst University, furthering his devotion to volunteering for community development projects. His enthusiasm for making a difference in Atlanta and beyond is prevalent in his roles as program management officer for the City of Atlanta for over five years and his seven-year tenure as a member of the Urban Design Commission where he administered historic guidelines and advocated for preservation, particularly within Black and underserved communities.

A well-known leader in the industry, Garfield has made exceptional contributions across various organizations, including as Atlanta Chapter President, Southeast Regional Vice President and Treasurer of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA); Georgia state representative to the National Strategic Council and member of  the National Public Awareness Committee for the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Garfield is also one of the founding members of The Atlanta Center for Creative Inquiry, Inc. (ACCI), now SPIKE Studio, a non-profit organization dedicated to exposing minority high school youth to architecture for close to 20 years.

About Moody Nolan

Moody Nolan is the country’s largest African American-owned architecture firm. Founded in 1982 with just two employees in Columbus, OH, Moody Nolan has grown to 360 employees across 12 offices. Specializing in corporate, education, sports/recreation, collegiate, healthcare, housing/mixed-use, and public service facilities, Moody Nolan is guided by its mission to improve every life the firm touches through high-performance design – exercising responsible citizenship in designing places & spaces that positively impact its clients, community, and the environment.

The firm expanded to Atlanta in 2017 and has worked on notable projects such as Roosevelt Hall and Atlanta Central Library. Acknowledging the firm’s sustained professional excellence, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) named Moody Nolan as the 58th recipient of the Architecture Firm Award in 2021; the highest honor the AIA bestows on an architecture practice. In 2022, the firm celebrated its 40th anniversary and was also named one of the most innovative architecture firms by Fast Company. For more information about Moody Nolan, visit www.moodynolan.com.

Feature Image Courtesy of Moody Nolan