The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design is pleased to announce, “Hiding in Plain Sight: The Architecture of Charles M. Robinson,” an exhibition exploring the life and works of one of Virginia’s most prolific architects. The exhibit (October 3, 2019-January 5, 2020) will feature architectural renderings, photographs, and ephemera pertaining to the life and works of the architect Charles M. Robinson, whose career spanned from 1889 to 1932. The exhibit has a particular focus on Robinson’s prolific work on the design of educational facilities in Virginia.

In 1889, at the age of 22, Charles M. Robinson established his first architectural firm in Pennsylvania, where he designed over 60 buildings. In 1906, Robinson returned to his native Virginia and established his independent architectural firm in Richmond. During his long career, Robinson amassed commissions for the designs of hundreds of buildings across the Commonwealth, specializing as a school architect for institutions including, but not limited to, The College of William & Mary, University of Richmond, James Madison University, University of Mary Washington, Virginia State University, and the public school systems for localities such as Richmond, Henrico, and Portsmouth, among others. He was the official school architect for public school districts throughout Virginia and revolutionized approaches to school design that served to advance health and economy. Many of Robinson’s designs are familiar to Richmond residents as part of their day-to-day experiences, though probably without their knowledge—hidden in plain sight.