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[Getty Caps Off $4.85M Initiative to Protect Buildings Designed by Black Architects]

Stull & Lee, Inc. is deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the Getty’s ‘Conserving Black Modernism’ initiative. This grant brings renewed global attention to the architectural and cultural legacy of our work on the Southwest Corridor and the MBTA Ruggles Station in Boston, Massachusetts.

A Monumental Urban Plan Shaped by the Community
The Southwest Corridor Project occupies a historic space built on land initially cleared for the I-95 Southwest Expressway. After community activism successfully halted the highway’s construction in 1969, Stull & Lee, Inc., under the leadership of M. David Lee, spearheaded the master planning for the MBTA Orange Line extension and a 52-acre linear park along its route. Prioritizing community voices, the project seamlessly integrated recreational facilities, community gardens, and pathways connecting to Boston’s broader park systems.

Ruggles Station: An Icon of Historic Design
Opened in 1987, Ruggles Station stands as a landmark architectural achievement for our firm, featuring a distinctive barrel vault ceiling, sunburst windows, cast-in-place concrete, and integrated works by local artists. The Getty funding will support a comprehensive historical documentation study by Northeastern University of significant Stull & Lee projects along the Southwest Corridor. Through archival research, photography, 3D modeling, and direct engagement with M. David Lee, this initiative will preserve the profound design and cultural history of these monumental spaces for future generations.