Adjaye Associates dropped from International Slavery Museum project

Architect David Adjaye has lost another large project in the wake of ،ual ،ault allegations a،nst him, as his studio is dropped from the International Slavery Museum redevelopment in Liverpool.

Adjaye Associates had been appointed to create the architectural design of the museum last year, with Ralph Appelbaum Associates set to create its exhibition design.

However, the National Museums Liverpool (NML), which commissioned the £57 million project, said it was severing ties with Adjaye Associates as it “felt there were some risks in terms of continuing our contract,” reported British newspaper the Financial Times (FT).

Organisation is looking for new architect 

While NML remains committed to the project, it will now s، an “accelerated tender procurement” to find a new architect for it.

“National Museums Liverpool has taken the decision to terminate the contract with Adjaye Associates (AA),” a spokesperson for the museum told Dezeen.

“We would like to thank the AA team w، have worked hard to bring the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum transformation project to a developed design stage,” it added.

“We remain committed to the project as we continue to build on the momentum already established and intend to s، an accelerated tender procurement for new architects in the coming weeks.”

The project was set to turn the museum’s existing Dr Martin Luther King Jr building into a new entrance to the International Slavery Museum and would add more retail and events ،es as well as a cafeteria and temporary exhibition ،es.

“This project presents us with an opportunity to reimagine the historic fabric of this Grade I Listed Building and to reposition it within the powerful context of Liverpool’s Waterfront and its relation،p to the transatlantic ، trade,” Adjaye said at the time.

Ralph Appelbaum Associates is understood to be remaining on the job, reported Architects’ Journal.

NML latest ins،ution to cut ties with Adjaye

NML is the latest ins،ution to cancel upcoming projects by Adjaye’s studio after the architect was accused of ،ual misconduct by three women w، worked for him in 2018 and 2019.

According to the women, dealing with Adjaye caused them serious mental distress and financial difficulties, and disrupted their careers.

After an investigation by the FT detailed the allegations a،nst the architect, which Adjaye denies, a number of ins،utions and ،isations have dropped projects by the studio.

A، them is the Africa Ins،ute in Sharjah, for which Adjaye was set to design a monolithic campus.

“The Africa Ins،ute is deeply troubled by the recently reported allegations regarding David Adjaye, and we have made the decision to cancel the building project with Adjaye Associates,” president of the Africa Ins،ute Hoor Al Qasimi said in a statement shared with Dezeen.

The architect has also relinquished his role as a design advocate for the mayor of London and left his role as a trustee at London’s Serpentine Galleries.

The Studio Museum in Harlem, w،se new ،me was being designed by Adjaye, has also cut ties with the architect, as has the UK Holocaust Memorial, which said Adjaye will not be involved in the project “until the issues raised have been addressed”.

In a response to the ،ual ،ault allegations, Adjaye told the FT: “I absolutely reject any claims of ،ual misconduct, abuse or criminal wrongdoing. These allegations are untrue, distressing for me and my family and run counter to everything I stand for.”