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John Warren Moutoussamy

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Image of John Warren Moutoussamy courtesy of wttw

John Warren Moutoussamy

Born in 1922, John Warren Moutoussamy is a notable yet overlooked architect from Chicago. His training began at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1948. There, he studied under the famed modernist, Mies Van Der Rohe. That modernist influence would later be seen in Moutoussamy's most famous commission.

After years of freelancing, Moutoussamy caught the attention of John H. Johnson a national titan in the media business. Looking to expand the headquarters of the popular magazine Ebony and their weekly entertainment outlet Jet, Johnson hired Moutoussamy to design their building on the corner of Michigan Ave and 9th. 


The exterior of Johson Publishing Company Building courtesy of Architectural Digest


The influence of Mies Van Der Rohe can be seen on the exterior of what is called the Johson Publishing Company Building. The columns that run down the front of the building are not only for decoration, but they are also meant to hold the building up without using the exterior walls. A method also employed by Van Der Rohe himself.


Interior of Johnson Publishing Company Building courtesy of wttw
 

Beyond the very modernist exterior of the Johnson Publishing Company Building, the interiors displayed a different story. Inside, warm colors, exciting carpet, and equally psychedelic wallpaper showed a culture that was celebrating black excellence at the prime of the Ebony days.

Though, those days did come to an end. Today, the building still stands but now known as the last and only tower designed by an African American in Chicago. The offices have since been converted into apartments available for rent. However, John Warren Moutoussamy's name and contribution to this historical landmark of the height of black media remain.

So much is to be said about the history of John Warren Moutoussamy and the Johson Publishing Company Building. For starters, this man has been excluded from conversations about Modernist architecture in America. There is very little literature even talking about him and his career. Thus writing an article about became extremely difficult. Design history today has the opportunity to rewrite itself to include those who meaningfully contributed to a movement. The time is now to begin that step. And may John Warren Moutoussamy be on that list.

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