The LOEB Fellowship

Brent Leggs is a national leader in the field of cultural conservation and historic preservation practice. He is Senior Field Officer at the National Trust for Historic Preservation based in Washington, D.C.

Brent has dedicated his professional career to preserving historic places that represent the diverse heritage of our nation. In his current work, he is the project manager for several National Treasure campaigns across the country. He recently led efforts to establish the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument in Alabama, which President Barack Obama designated in January 2017.

Continuing work in partnership with the City of Alabama, he is leading the visioning for the preservation of the historic A. G. Gaston Motel and A. G. Gaston Office Building, both significant cultural assets in the Civil Rights movement. Brent also led a three-year campaign to protect Villa Lewaro, the New York home of Madam C. J. Walker, in perpetuity, with a preservation easement which the National Trust holds.

From securing the protection of Joe Frazier’s Gym in Philadelphia and Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey, Brent advises city leaders, property owners, and stakeholders in comprehensive planning processes to revive the most important landmarks in American history. This work also includes a bright future for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Currently, Brent is advising Howard University on preservation planning strategies for modernizing their historic Founders Library and Morgan State University in the development of a campus heritage stewardship plan to preserve their rich architectural legacy.

Brent is author of the heritage resource, “Preserving African-American Historic Places,” which provides tools for protecting some of the most important landmarks in African American history. His latest heritage resource is titled “Envisioning Villa Lewaro’s Future,” which offers initial redevelopment concepts of Madam C. J. Walker’s home.

Brent is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland’s Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, where he teaches Preservation Economics and Social and Ethnic Issues. He has also taught preservation planning at the Boston Architectural College.