( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) A Transformative Pavilion Honoring African Diasporic Traditions Makes History at One of the World’s Premier Design Exhibitions
ENSPIRE Contributor: Kirah Smith
Photo Credit: Damien T. Taylor
Morgan State University has made international history as the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to present a solo pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, one of the world’s most prestigious exhibitions for architecture and design. The 2025 showcase marks a groundbreaking milestone, placing Black academic excellence and cultural storytelling on a global stage.
Morgan State assistant professor Coleman A. Jordan envisioned the installation, titled ReCall & Response,. Drawing inspiration from the West African “talking drum,” the exhibit uses architecture to explore rhythm, memory, and ancestral connection. Built with sustainably sourced timber, the space immerses visitors in a tactile, symbolic experience that honors African diasporic traditions and history.
More than just a creative vision, the project was a collaborative, hands-on effort. Students and alumni from Morgan State, Tuskegee University, and Clemson University worked together during a residency in Venice to construct the pavilion. This design-build process emphasized community, craftsmanship, and cross-campus unity—values central to the HBCU legacy.
The pavilion officially opened on May 10, 2025, in the Giardini della Marinaressa, a prominent location within the Biennale’s main exhibition grounds. It will remain open through November 24, offering visitors a deeply reflective journey into the African diaspora through form, space, and sound. Supported in part by the U.S. Pavilion team, Morgan’s debut highlights the importance of representation in global design forums.
Adding an unforgettable layer of cultural performance, Morgan State’s renowned marching band, the Magnificent Marching Machine, performed during Art Night Venezia on June 21. Their high-energy procession through the Venetian streets included spoken word, live drumming, and traditional libation rituals. The performance transformed the exhibit into a living cultural celebration.
This international appearance follows their recent invitation to perform at the D-Day Memorial Parade in Normandy, France—another historic first for an HBCU band.
Morgan State’s presence in Venice isn’t just symbolic; it’s transformative. Eurocentric narratives and institutions have long dominated the field of architecture. ReCall & Response disrupts that trend, proving that Black voices and institutions are integral to global design conversations.
As the Venice Biennale continues into the fall, Morgan State’s exhibit offers proof that HBCUs are not only thriving academically but are also leading cultural innovation on the world stage. Through architecture, music, and historical memory, ReCall & Response stands as a powerful statement: HBCUs are shaping the future boldly, creatively, and unapologetically.
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