The National Building Museum announced the opening of A SOUTH FORTY: Contemporary Architecture and Design in the American South, which opened on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Curated by Peter MacKeith, dean and professor at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, and designed by Jonathan Boelkins, architect and exhibition designer, the exhibition highlights the vibrant and distinctive architectural practices emerging from the American South.

A SOUTH FORTY offers a cross-section of the dynamic evolution of contemporary architecture in the American South over the last generation. It features the work of more than forty architectural practices drawn from the southeastern United States, spanning from the North Carolina Atlantic coast to an inflection point in Oklahoma, along U.S. Highway 40. The exhibition brings to light the ways in which modern architecture in the South is moving beyond traditional typologies and stereotypes, emphasizing the region’s unique responses to rapid growth, natural disasters, and a more complex and diverse identity.

The exhibition showcases the ingenuity and creativity of architects who are responding to the region's climate, materials, and local context. A SOUTH FORTY highlights projects across scales, from private homes to significant public buildings, with a particular focus on civic architecture that strengthens and enriches communities.

“As the National Building Museum, we are dedicated to inspiring curiosity about the world we design and build. A SOUTH FORTY exemplifies our mission by offering an in-depth look at the rich and evolving architectural landscape of the American South,” said Aileen Fuchs, President and Executive Director of the National Building Museum. “This exhibition provides a unique opportunity to explore how the region’s architecture is reshaping its communities, while telling a broader story of place-based design, creativity, and resilience.”

The story of A SOUTH FORTY centers on the development of architecture and design in the American South since 1990, as the region has experienced economic growth and demographic shifts. From natural disasters to the region's evolving cultural identity, Southern architecture today is increasingly defined by engagement with both its landscape and its people.

The exhibition also underscores the significance of place-based design, which balances environmental, cultural, and social contexts. Architects in the region are working in both urban centers and rural landscapes, acknowledging the region’s history and traditions while addressing contemporary needs. As such, the exhibition emphasizes how Southern architecture creates meaningful, lasting connections with communities, through buildings that are designed to withstand both time and the elements.

The works on display in A SOUTH FORTY highlight architecture that is not only functional and innovative but also deeply rooted in the heritage of the South. These projects reflect the ongoing evolution of the region, with architects navigating both historical legacies and future possibilities to create buildings of strength, durability, and lasting significance.

A SOUTH FORTY FEATURES THE WORK OF

Alterstudio Architecture; archimania; ARCHITECTUREFIRM; Atelier Mey; Brooks + Scarpa; Chambless King Architects; Dake Wells Architecture; de leon & primmer architecture workshop; DEMX Architecture; Duvall Decker; Ecological Design Group; El Dorado / KSU Design + Make Studio; emerymcclure architecture; EskewDumezRipple; Evoke Studio Architecture; Frank Harmon Architect; Fultz & Singh Architects; Helix Architecture + Design; Hobgood Architects; Ray Huff Architect; Hufft; in situ studio; JENNINGS + SANTA-RITA ARCHITECTS; Katherine Hogan Architects; Marlon Blackwell Architects; modus studio; Office of Jonathan Tate; patterhn ives; Pendulum Studio; Polk Stanley Wilcox; Rural Studio, Auburn University; Sanders Pace Architecture; SILO AR+D; Somewhere Studio; STUDIO A Architecture; Tall Architects; The Raleigh Architecture Company; unabridged Architecture; University of Arkansas Community Design Center; University of Arkansas Urban Design Build Studio; University of Florida Design/Build; Vines Architecture; VMDO; W.G. Clark Architect.

CURATED BY

Peter MacKeith, Dean and Professor, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design Designed by: Jonathan Boelkins, Architect and Exhibition Designer