HARVEY BERNARD GANTT, FAIA (1943-)

Gantt grew up in Charleston SC.  His father was a carpenter, plus an early talent for drawing led to Gantt's choice of a career architecture.  After attending Iowa State University 1960-1962, he was repeatedly denied admission into Clemson University's Architecture program.  After exhausting all administrative channels, he took Clemson to court on charges of discrimination and won, gaining admission and graduating in 1965. 

From 1965 to 1968, he interned at Odell in Charlotte, the first black architect the firm had ever hired. He graduated in 1970 from MIT with a Masters in Architecture and became founding partner of Gantt Huberman in Charlotte in 1971.  That firm continues today as one of the most successful firms in North Carolina.

Gantt is the most politically active architect in North Carolina history.  He was on the Charlotte City Council from 1974 to 1983; the Mayor of Charlotte from 1983 to 1987; and served on the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Council, the Democratic National Committee, and the National Capital Planning Commission.  Under his leadership, the commission adopted a strategic plan for city monuments and selected sites on the National Mall for the Martin Luther King Memorial and the World War II Memorial.

In 1990 and 1996, he ran unsuccessfully against incumbent North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms in two highly polarized races.  Barack Obama was a volunteer for his campaign in 1996. 

Gantt received the AIANC Award of Excellence in Architecture in 1981 and has also received received honorary degrees from Winthrop College, Queens College, Clemson University, Johnson C. Smith University, and Belmont Abbey College.

1970 - The Garrett Thomas (Tommy) Nash House, 4221 La Brea Drive, Charlotte. Gantt drew the plans for this house on his kitchen table.  Sold in 2005 to current owner Kimberly Alexander.

1976 - The Dr. Kenneth H. Chambers House, 22 Catawba Ridge Road, River Hills SC.  Sold in 2009.

Around 1981 - Student Housing for UNC Charlotte, Charlotte NC.

Sources include:  Cheryl Walker, Harvey Gantt, MIT, Gantt Huberman.