Renowned Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye OBE has been named the 2021 recipient of one of the highest awards in the field of architecture, the Royal Gold Medal. This marks the first time in the 172-year-history of the Royal Gold Medal award’s existence that it has been presented to a black architect, reports Architectural Digest. 

While the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) was forced to postpone its illustrious Stirling Prize award until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has named Adjaye as the 2021 Royal Gold Medal recipient. The achievement award, which is sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth, recognizes an architect, or group of architects, that have made considerable contributions and advancements to international architecture and the field overall, cites Arch Paper.