C. David Moody Jr. built a career that joined architecture with the practical work of construction. A Chicago native who moved with his family to Ann Arbor, Michigan, he studied psychology at Morehouse College, graduating in 1978, then earned an architecture degree at Howard University in 1981. Along the way he founded a company, backed college students and became the first African American president of the Associated General Contractors of Georgia.
The path between the two degrees had a detour. Howard's account describes drafting and architectural drawing classes in high school, a drafting job after his psychology studies, then a return to architectural education. Before starting his business, he worked as a field engineer, staff architect and consultant, seeing buildings from both the design side and the construction side.
Moody founded C.D. Moody Construction in 1988. A later announcement from Decide DeKalb records the company's work across Atlanta: the airport's international terminal, the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College and the Atlanta History Center's home for the Cyclorama.
The contracting structure becomes clear at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. AECOM identifies its Hunt business as the construction manager in a joint venture with Holder Construction, C.D. Moody Construction and H.J. Russell & Company. Moody's firm contributed as one member of a larger delivery team.
His support for students reached beyond his own training. National Skills Coalition describes a foundation providing financial assistance to students interested in construction and entrepreneurship, along with endowed scholarships at several universities. Howard dedicated its C.D. Moody Studio in recognition of his contributions to its engineering and architecture college.
Moody has also spoken publicly about surviving childhood abuse. A Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative profile identifies him as a 2015 fellow and records the 2016 publication of his memoir, written with Charles W. Cherry II. His speaking since then has reached organizations working with survivors.
