Zora’s House, New Facility

A SPACE INSPIRED BY LEGACY AND LED BY PURPOSE

Named in honor of literary giant Zora Neale Hurston, Zora’s House is a sanctuary for women and gender-expansive people of color to dream, collaborate, and lead. Founded in 2018 by LC Johnson – a visionary social entrepreneur, writer, and speaker – the organization has grown into a nationally recognized hub for community, creativity, and leadership development.

LC’s mission was clear: to create not just a physical space, but a cultural cornerstone where belonging and possibility converge for those too often excluded from traditional leadership circles.

BUILDING AN INTENTIONAL TEAM

To bring this vision to life, LC Johnson and her team were deeply intentional in selecting a design and construction team that reflected the community it serves. Moody Nolan—the largest Black-owned architecture firm in the U.S. and headquartered in Columbus—was selected as the project architect. The interior designer, a Black woman and member of the Moody Nolan team, brought cultural insight and care to the space’s design. Marker Construction, a woman-owned firm with a legacy of high-quality, mission-driven work, was selected as the builder.

This alignment between client, architect, interior designer, and builder created a movement-anchored experience where every conversation and decision reflected care, representation, and radical welcome.

BRINGING THE ZORA’S HOUSE 2.0 VISION TO LIFE

Marker Construction proudly served as the Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMR) for the transformative Zora’s House 2.0 project in Columbus’s Weinland Park neighborhood. The new 10,000-square-foot community hub was envisioned by LC Johnson as a dynamic center for leadership, innovation, and empowerment – specifically designed to serve and celebrate women of color and gender-expansive individuals.

The project marked the culmination of an impressive $6 million capital campaign to expand the organization’s impact and capacity. The Marker team worked alongside Moody Nolan to bring the three-story space to life, which includes a welcoming café, office space for female entrepreneurs and small business owners, and residential units that provide stable housing and onsite coaching to advance participants’ careers or businesses. With over 6,000 square feet of dedicated programming and event space, Zora’s House more than doubled its original footprint—creating room for creative workshops, mentorship, and holistic development.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND STAYING ON BUDGET

During preconstruction, the Marker team proposed several value engineering options creating budget savings for the client. Changes included using corrosion resistant pressure pipes that are tougher and can handle higher pressure, installing metal-clad cables that are easier to handle and install and using expansion tanks that serve the purpose of managing water system pressure and are cost effective.

At the onset of construction, Marker faced challenges with lead times on the main electrical panel. Using creative problem solving, the project team secured a temporary panel allowing the client to take occupancy of the building as planned and move forward with work. Marker’s self-performed work included concrete placement, structural steel installation, finish carpentry, and more, showcasing their commitment to excellence.

A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Zora’s House 2.0 stands as one of the largest real estate developments in the Midwest built and owned by a Black woman-founded organization. The new facility serves as a community-led economic development engine, offering subsidized office spaces for female entrepreneurs and small business owners, and hosting programs designed to help women of color launch and grow their ventures. Since its inception, Zora’s House has assisted over 3,000 women of color in connecting with resources, navigating job transitions, and activating their leadership in various industries and sectors.

RECOGNITION AND IMPACT

The project’s significance has been acknowledged through various accolades, including the 2024 Columbus Business First’s Building Columbus Award for Best Community Impact. Additionally, the City of Columbus recognized the grand opening of Zora’s House 2.0 by declaring October 11, 2024, as International Day of the Girl, highlighting the organization’s role in empowering women and girls in the community .

Marker is honored to have built this home for a remarkable organization that is connecting, empowering, and elevating women of color in our community. We know Zora’s House will continue to inspire and lead – locally and far beyond.