Harvey Gantt

Harvey Bernard Gantt grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, during the era of segregation. As the oldest child of Wilhelmina and Christopher Gantt, he attended NAACP meetings with his father and engaged in discussions about advocacy and racial discrimination with his family.

After graduating second in his class from Burke High School, Gantt began studying architecture at Iowa State University. Following a legal battle that reached the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, Gantt became the first African American student admitted to Clemson University. Lucinda Brawley became the first African American woman admitted to Clemson and later married Gantt. He graduated with honors from Clemson with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and earned a master of city planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Gantt moved to Charlotte after completing his studies and co-founded Gantt Huberman Architects. The firm became known for integrating urban planning with architectural design and for employing a diverse team of professionals. Gantt Huberman Architects contributed to the development of several Charlotte landmarks, including the Charlotte Transportation Center, TransAmerica Square, ImaginOn, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and the Johnson C. Smith University Science Center. Gantt is recognized for his influence in urban design, architecture, and civic revitalization, and is frequently invited to speak on topics related to architecture, equity, and urban development.

Gantt’s contributions extend beyond architecture. He joined Charlotte City Council and later became the city’s first African American mayor, serving two terms. Gantt played a key role in shaping Charlotte’s identity as a New South City and became a national figure through his U.S. Senate campaigns in North Carolina.

Gantt remains active in advocating for equity and equal rights, serving on civic, cultural, and business boards, and leading philanthropic and community initiatives. As a keynote speaker and panelist, he shares insights from his experiences in public service, professional leadership, and the civil rights movement with a range of audiences. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture in Charlotte is named in his honor, recognizing his enduring impact on architecture, urban planning, and civil rights.