AI Summary: C Jacob Payne, a graduate student in the MIT Master of Architecture program, is exploring the intersection of contemporary design and historical preservation, particularly focusing on Black architectural heritage. His recent projects include reconstructing models and drawings of significant structures at Tuskegee University, such as the original 1896 chapel designed by Robert R. Taylor, utilizing limited archival materials. Payne's research emphasizes the importance of understanding and reconstructing historic spaces despite scarce documentation, and he is currently investigating the architectural typology of "juke joints" from the Jim Crow era. His work has been recognized with the 2025-26 L. Dennis Shapiro Graduate Fellowship in the History of African American Experience of Technology.
