The Africa Institute in Sharjah will no longer go ahead with the construction of a new campus designed by David Adjaye in light of last week FinancialTimes report describing sexual misconduct allegations against the Ghanaian-British architect. In a statement provided to HyperallergicAfrica Institute President Hoor Al Qasimi has confirmed that plans previously commissioned by Adjaye for the Institute’s new building have been canceled entirely.
Al Qasimi said the Africa Institute was “deeply troubled” by the charges against Adjaye. “Our decision will not impact our strong research and teaching programs at the Institute’s current facilities,” she added. The Africa Institute, an interdisciplinary academic research institute established in 2018 for postgraduate studies focusing on the history and culture of Africa, commissioned Adjaye Associates to design its new campus in the United Arab Emirates in 2021.
The Africa Institute joins the Studio Museum in Harlem, the UK Holocaust Memorial, the deCordova Sculpture Park in Massachusetts and the Multnomah County Library in Portland, all of which have separates from Adjaye after being accused of sexual harassment and exploitative behavior by three former employees. The allegations set out in the FinancialTimes the initial report ranged from late payments and delayed work visas from Adjaye’s architectural firm to cases of sexual coercion, assault and wrongful dismissal of the architect. The names of the three women, who have been anonymized in the Time article, were disclosed to the public after Adjaye and his lawyer complied with the Ghanaian government’s request to review legal documents relating to the allegations.
Adjaye denied the allegations, calling them “false”.
“I am ashamed to say that I have forged relationships which, while entirely consensual, have blurred the lines between my professional and personal life,” the architect said in a statement shared by the crisis management firm. Kendal Advisory. Adjaye added that he will “immediately seek professional help in order to learn from these mistakes to ensure they never happen again.”
Hyperallergic has contacted Adjaye Associates for comment.
A new art museum at Princeton University designed by Adjaye, construction of which began in 2021, is set to open next year. “We find the nature of the charges extremely disturbing,” director James Steward told the New York Times. “It’s fair to say that most of our work with Adjaye is behind us. We have an obligation to everyone involved in this project to see it through to completion.
The Counterpublic Triennale in St. Louis, which exhibits a sculptural commission by Adjaye at the Griot Museum of Black History, said in a statement last week that it would “evaluate the best next steps in the coming days in dialogue with our community. . ”
