Moody Nolan is pleased to announce the promotion of Ochuko Edema, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, BD+C, to director of New York operations. In his new role, Ochuko, who has served as a project manager in the firm’s New York office since 2021, will leverage the strong foundation of Moody Nolan’s brand to create new client relationships while targeting growth in key sectors such as healthcare, education, housing, and civic.
As director of New York operations, he will lead a multidisciplinary team fostering collaboration and innovation to deliver high-quality projects tailored to market needs. Ochuko will serve as the New York team’s primary liaison to the national Moody Nolan network, implementing the company’s overarching strategic vision and goals while driving business development and facilitating long-term local partnerships.
“Since its establishment in 2017, our New York City office has drawn inspiration from the hub of architectural innovation and history that exists within the city,” says Jonathan Moody, CEO of Moody Nolan. “With an enhanced understanding of our team’s regional operations and a keen familiarity with our mission and values, Ochuko will spearhead initiatives that continue to broaden our reach in the New York metropolitan area and beyond.”
His portfolio of over 20 years includes a diverse range of projects with Moody Nolan, including the New York City Department of Design and Construction-led, $170 million community building reconstruction in Chinatown. He also led projects with J.P. Morgan Chase, delivering complex new build and fit-out retail bank branch locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including a $6 million renovation and relocation project for the J.P. Morgan Chase flagship branch at Madison Square Garden.
“I’m honored to continue leading the talented team we’ve cultivated in New York in a new capacity. I am committed to fostering a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and empowers these individuals to excel,” says Ochuko. “This new role provides opportunities to continue pushing our practice further, evolving both our internal and external relations to further ingrain ourselves in the exciting opportunities the dynamic architectural landscape of New York City has to offer.”
Ochuko’s leadership will continue enriching and expanding Moody Nolan’s impact in the city through strategic client partnerships. The firm’s work in New York City includes the $1.29 billion, 1.2 million-square-foot expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, a LEED Gold certified and award-winning project; as well as a $40 million renovation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern and Cypriot Art Gallery in collaboration with NADAA, and studies for the reimagining of Lincoln Center for the Performing Art’s Amsterdam Avenue side, which are currently underway.
Ochuko holds a Master of Architecture from the University at Buffalo and a Bachelor of Science from University of Jos in Nigeria.
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.
Established in 2017, Moody Nolan New York supports projects across sectors including healthcare, aviation, cultural, and retail. 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
