Zena Howard
Zena joined The Freelon Group in 2003, rising from Associate to Associate Principal by 2010. Zena has led many of Freelon’s significant and often AIA award-winning projects including the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington DC, The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, Greensboro, NC, Durham County Human Services Complex, Durham, NC, several Durham County Public Libraries, Durham, NC, and the District of Columbia Anacostia and Tenley-Friendship Libraries, Washington DC.
As a senior member of Freelon’s project management team, Zena has guided projects from pre-design through construction and close-out, ensuring high-level design and quality throughout. She values communication, relationships, and management processes that result in excellent design and construction while achieving critical project delivery goals (on time, within budget, and in a collaborative manner). She also helps establish and oversee firm-wide project management practices and standards to maintain Freelon’s distinguished reputation of exceptional client service.
Zena has over 20 years of experience with a focus on private and public institutions, museum and cultural facilities, libraries, and higher education facilities. More specifically, her experience includes diverse buildings and clients with specialized and/or unique design goals such as environmentally sensitive artifact exhibit areas, environmentally and spatially sensitive spaces for autistic children, historically and culturally significant buildings and locations, and sustainable design in pursuit of LEED® certification and other high performance building goals.
Zena is a native of North Carolina and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia. She has been a registered architect for over 14 years. Prior to joining Freelon, she spent 13 years practicing in Pittsburgh, PA and Richmond, VA. She is a LEED Accredited Professional, a member of the American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects.