The School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin has recently changed the name of its library to the John S. Chase Architecture and Planning Library in honor of the school’s first Black graduate. Thanks to a $5 million gift from Chase’s son, Tony Chase, and his daughter-in-law, Dina Al-Sowayel, the new library will receive $5 million in funding, including $1 million for two endowments.
In 1950, John Chase enrolled in the UT School of Architecture and graduated two years later as the school’s first-ever Black graduate. He was a pioneer in the field of architecture, later becoming the first Black licensed architect in the South, the first Black member of the United States Commission of Fine Arts, and co-founder of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Additionally, he was a dedicated alumnus of UT, serving as a member of the UT Development Board and Commission and as the first Black president of the Texas Exes, the university’s alumni association.
Throughout his career, Chase’s firm designed nearly 300 buildings and renovation projects, including residential homes, churches, office buildings, organization headquarters, and large-scale buildings throughout Texas and Washington, D.C.
Following his graduation from UT, Chase designed the headquarters for the Colored Teachers State Association of Texas. Over six decades later, the building was acquired by UT and renamed the John S. and Drucie R. Chase Building. At Texas Southern University, a historically Black educational institution, Chase designed 21 buildings and performed over 15 campus renovations. He also served as a faculty member and was a key leader in developing the HBCU’s campus master plan.
“My father always said, ‘A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,’” said Tony Chase. “Our hope is that having my father’s name and story of perseverance and positive change affixed to this library will inspire future generations of students to broaden their awareness of what is possible.”