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Exterior view of The Center for Black Excellence & Culture; Designed by JLA Architects

The Center for Black Excellence & Culture

Overview

The Center for Black Excellence & Culture is a transformational cultural education and economic center intended to realize Black excellence embedded in the Greater Madison community. The design of The Center revolves around the ‘Black Aesthetic’ incorporating elements of drama, ‘will to adorn’, asymmetry, among other qualities. The Center was designed to celebrate and encompass Black culture both through the architectural design and in its programming.

The programming includes innovation & leadership development spaces; history, culture, and gathering places, performance theatres & studios, as well as wellness spaces.

 

2026 Daily Reporter Top Project

Categories: Civic & Institutional, Community & Nonprofit, Corporate
Tags: ,
Location: 655 W. Badger Road, Madison, WI 53713
Completion Date: January 2026

Client: The Center for Black Excellence & Culture

Project Data:

A 37,000 s.f. cultural center, including:

  • A lower level with a 280-seat performance theater as well as smaller rooms for artists to work in.
  • The main level features a multi-level lobby space, meeting rooms, a children’s library, recording studio, senior center, gift shop, and gallery.
  • The upper level is comprised of offices for the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, conference rooms, a kitchen, a coworking space, a women’s empowerment center, as well as a private lounge and outdoor terrace.

Project Gallery
“As we have needed renderings to tell our story, it has been really great to be able to get [the JLA team] on the phone and say ‘we’ve got this great presentation coming up, can we do something that give an internal view?’ Their flexibility to accommodate has been really important. It’s helpful to work with a team that fully gets us.”
— Founder Dr. Alexander Gee

Project Video

Project Location

Read More

Inside the Architecture of The Center for Black Excellence

The Cap Times

Center for Black Excellence and Culture celebrates grand opening

Madison 365

A Beacon of Black Brilliance

In Business Magazine

Several moments of truly historic significance this year’

Madison Magazine / Channel 3000

Center for Black Excellence will make space for Madison’s Black community

Channel 3000

Founder of Center for Black Excellence and Culture on how groundbreaking will impact Madison’s Southside

WKOW27

Center for Black Excellence and Culture hosts groundbreaking ceremony

Channel 3000

“This will be a place where dreams will flourish.”

Madison365.com

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