“Ajaye Associates is no longer associated with Multnomah County and the East County Library project,” stated the Multnomah County Library in Portland, announcing their separation from architect David Adjaye. The library's local partner, Holst Architecture, will continue the project as planned.
According to The Financial Times, three women accused Adjaye and his firm of “different forms of exploitation – from alleged sexual assault and sexual harassment by him to a toxic work culture – that have gone unchecked for years.” Adjaye has denied the allegations, stating, “I absolutely reject any claims of sexual misconduct, abuse or criminal wrongdoing.”
The accusations have led to speculation regarding the impact on Adjaye's business and ongoing projects, including his roles as an architectural adviser to the mayor of London and his involvement in the British Holocaust memorial project. He has also stepped away from a major Chicago housing project. Adjaye stated, “I did not want the allegations to become a distraction to those projects.”
Projects closely associated with Adjaye, such as the Studio Museum in Harlem and Princeton's new University Art Museum, will proceed without him, but they may miss out on his star power. James Steward, the director of the Princeton University Museum, said, “We have an obligation to all the people involved in this project to see it to completion.”
Clients of Adjaye expressed concern about the impact of the allegations on their projects. Bedrock, a Detroit-based developer working on a waterfront revitalization project, stated that they are “evaluating the business associations” with Adjaye in light of the serious allegations.
Regarding the accusations, Adjaye admitted, “I entered into relationships which though entirely consensual, blurred the boundaries between my professional and personal lives.” He also expressed his intention to seek professional help and learn from his mistakes.
As the allegations against Adjaye continue to unfold, the future of his completed or nearly completed projects remains uncertain. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., completed in 2016, has been closely associated with Adjaye, but officials declined to comment on the situation.
The impact of the accusations against cultural figures differs among the public. In the case of buildings, their permanence and solidity make cancellation more challenging. Adjaye's fall from grace contrasts with the high regard he achieved, including receiving the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
While the reactions to the accusations have been concentrated in Britain and the United States, it is unclear how other countries where Adjaye has projects will respond. In Ghana, where Adjaye's success is a source of great pride, news outlets have widely reported the allegations, with emphasis on Adjaye's denials.
