The studio's first solo exhibition,David Adjaye: Making Public Buildings, was shown at theWhitechapel Gallery in London in January 2006, withThames and Hudson publishing the catalogue of the same name. This followed their 2005 publication of Adjaye's first book,David Adjaye Houses.[14]
Adjaye was selected to design theMuseum of Contemporary Art Denver, which opened in 2007. The building, Adjaye's first museum commission, was designed to minimize boundaries between the exterior spaces of the city and the interior galleries of the museum. Hidden skylights fill the interior spaces with natural light, and large windows look out on the city streets. The building has five galleries as well as dedicated education spaces, a shop, library and rooftop café.[16]
Adjaye won a competition to design theMoscow School of Management Skolkovo which was completed in 2010.[17] Rejecting the traditional campus-style, the building is designed as one form to encourage student interaction.[16]
In 2015, theAishti Foundation, a mixed art gallery and retail space, opened in Beirut, Lebanon.[19] The gallery space is over 40,000 square feet. Adjaye's design marries art viewing with shopping, two seemingly conflicting experiences.[20]
In 2007, artistLinda Pace reached out to Adjaye to design a contemporary art centre for her art collection shortly before she died from breast cancer that year.[29] Ruby City, located inSan Antonio, Texas, opened in 2019.[30]
In 2018, 1199SEIU President George Gresham[31] reached out to Adjaye, who later accepted the commission[32][33] to design the new 16,500-square-foot member space. The designed featured hundreds of photos gathered from the union's vast photo archive and placed on ceramic tiles produced by Cerámica Suro in Guadalajara, Mexico.[32]The 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is located in New York, New York, and was completed in 2020. The designed was namedArchitect's Newspaper Best of Design for Interior Workplace in 2020.[34]
In 2023, Adjaye's first permanent public sculpture, titledAsaase III was unveiled. The artwork is located at The Griot Museum of Black History in St. Louis, Missouri, and was commissioned by curator Allison Glenn for the 2023 Counterpublic triennial.[41]
Adjaye is also known for his collaborations with contemporary artists on installations and exhibitions. He worked with Ofili to create an environment forThe Upper Room, which was later acquired byTate Britain and caused a nationwidemedia debate. Adjaye collaborated with artistOlafur Eliasson to create a light installation,Your black horizon, at the 2005Venice Biennale. He has also worked on the art projectSankalpa with directorShekhar Kapur.[43] In May 2019, the Ghana Freedom Pavilion - designed by Adjaye - was inaugurated at the 58th Venice Art Biennale.[44] He also designed the56th Venice Art Biennale with the late curator Okwui Enwezor; the River Reading Room for the Gwangju Biennale;[45] and the Sclera Pavilion for the London Design Festival.[46]
Adjaye co-authored two seasons of theBBC'sDreamspaces television series and hosts a BBC radio programme. In June 2005, he presented the documentaryBuilding Africa: Architecture of a Continent. In 2008, he participated inManifesta 7[47] and theGwangju Biennale.Making Place: The Architecture of David Adjaye was on display at theArt Institute of Chicago from September 2015 to January 2016.[48] In November 2020, Adjaye published his early portfolio in his book titledAdjayeWorks 1995–2007: Houses, Pavilions, Installations, Buildings[49] with Peter Allison andThames & Hudson. In September 2022, Adjaye published his continued portfolio in his latest book titledAdjaye Works 2007 - 2015: Houses, Pavilions, Installations, Buildings[50] with Peter Allison and Thames & Hudson.
In November 2020, Adjaye revealed his vision for theMuseum of West African Art which will be built inBenin City, Nigeria. Adjaye Associates' building will house historic art and artefacts as well as incorporate galleries dedicated to contemporary arts.[citation needed]
In 2021, Adjaye revealed his design for the District Hospitals project across Ghana, Accra and The Africa Institute in Sharjah, UAE.[citation needed]
In April 2021, theCherry Groce Memorial Pavilion was completed in Brixton.[57] Commissioned by the Cherry Groce Foundation, the memorial is in honour of Cherry Groce, who was shot in her home by theMetropolitan Police in front of her children on 28 September 1985, sparking the1985 Brixton riot.[58]
In September 2022, theW. E. B. Du Bois Museum Foundation unveiled the plans and renderings for the new W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Complex in Accra, Ghana, designed by Adjaye.[59]
In October 2022,Grinnell College Board of Trustees approved construction of the new Civic Engagement Quad Core Project designed by Adjaye, slated to open in fall 2024.[60]
His other recent works include interiors for theSEIU 1199 Healthcare Workers' East in New York City,[61]The Webster in Los Angeles, California (2020),[62] Mole House in London, UK (2019),[63][64] Ruby City in San Antonio, Texas (2019),[65][66] McCarter Switching Station in Newark, New Jersey (2018),[67] Sugar Hill Mixed-Use Development in Harlem, New York (2015),[68] Alara Concept Store in Lagos, Nigeria (2015),[69]Aïshti Foundation in Beirut, Lebanon (2015).[70]
In July 2023, developer Hondo withdrew its planning application for an Adjaye Associates-designed 22-storey tower inBrixton, south London, days before aGreater London Authority hearing. The 98m-tall block received over 1,000 objections from locals and was criticised for its prominence in a mostly low-rise area.[74]
Bank Square, Bank of Ghana, Accra designed by Adjaye Associates
In 2024 the Bank of Ghana inauguratedThe Bank Square in Accra, designed by Adjaye Associates. Ghanaian politician Gabby Otchere Darko called the building "one of the most impressive financial houses in the whole of Africa".[75]
In January 2025, the government of Ghana launched an investigation into the funding of the unbuilt National Cathedral of Ghana in Accra, designed by Adjaye's studio.[76] According to reports, $58 million of taxpayer's money has been spent on the $400 million cathedral despite construction not starting.[77]
Adjaye established his practice in 2000 as Adjaye Associates.[78] The firm now operates globally with offices in Accra, London, and New York and has completed projects in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.[79]
In March 2024, the practice announced the appointment of three new CEOs to lead Adjaye Associates' three global studios – described as a 'fundamental change'.[80] The three CEOs, Lucy Tilley, Pascale Sablan and Kofi Bio, lead each of the Adjaye Associates' three global studios in London, New York, and Accra. Adjaye was named the executive chair of the group and remains as principal architect of the firm leading design direction.[81][82]
In March 2025, the practice reported a pre-tax loss of £720,000 (down from a £2.5m profit the previous year) for the year ending 31 December 2023. Turnover dropped over £3 million from £20.4m to £17.1m. The accounts covered the period when sexual misconduct allegations were made against David Adjaye, and when the firm made redundancies, reducing its payroll from 110 to 85.[83]
In 2023, Adjaye faced allegations of sexual assault and harassment by three women who had worked in his practice;[84] he denied the allegations and no charges were brought against him. He did apologise for what he called "mistakes" where he had "blurred the boundaries" between his professional and personal lives.[85][86] He subsequently resigned from his role as architectural adviser to theMayor of London, removed himself from involvement in theHolocaust memorial in Britain although Adjaye Associates continue as lead architect,[87][88] the Africa Institute inSharjah cancelled a major new campus project,[89] and his practice was dropped from a £57 million project atLiverpool'sInternational Slavery Museum.[90]
Following the allegations and clients withdrawing projects from Adjaye's practice, the business was reported to have begun a redundancy programme. Former employees also complained of a 'toxic' workplace culture at the practice.[91] Adjaye Associates commissioned an independent workplace review[92] from a leading employmentKC following the complaints and have publicly said that they have made significant changes including restructuring the firm's governance[93] with the stated intention of becoming an exceptional workplace.
Adjaye was the first Louis Kahn visiting professor at theUniversity of Pennsylvania, and was the Kenzo Tange Professor in Architecture atHarvard Graduate School of Design. In addition, he is a RIBA Chartered Member, an AIA Honorary Fellow, a Foreign Honorary Member of theAmerican Academy of Arts and Letters, and a Senior Fellow of theDesign Futures Council.[94] He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture and also serves as member of the Advisory Boards of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture and theLSE Cities Programme.[95]
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