My last day as President and hand on the baton to Karl Grace

16 November 2013 - my final day as President. The AGM was held successfully at Kings Place in London. A very nice venue and good to see so many Members, old and new alike.

In reflecting and reviewing my two-years as President, I have been privileged to represent CIAT and the discipline of Architectural Technology. My two years have been incredibly special; I have had some of the most amazing experiences. The Institute is very special.

I have now passed on the baton to Karl Grace whom I know shares an incredible passion and drive that my predecessors and I have shared.

Karl, as practitioner and a former Honorary Secretary, will bring with him his skills and experiences to take CIAT and Architectural Technology through its continued growth as set out within the Strategic Plan. Karl has been an active member for many years starting as Councillor for the West Midlands Region before becoming Honorary Secretary for 12 years, as such he has vast knowledge and understanding of the operation of the Institute. Karl has also been involved with the Institute within a taskforce for Practice, which looks at the documents for the practising members.

Karl will be privileged to lead the Institute through its 50th Anniversary celebrations.

I wish Karl the very best and every success as President.

I now close this blog after two years and hope that you have enjoyed my ramblings and given you an insight into my two years in office. I now serve as Immediate Past President for a year and join the elite group of Past Presidents.

Handing over to Karl Grace PCIAT

My penultimate duty as President

My penultimate duty as President was a guest of APS President Richard Habgood at the Constructing Excellence Awards on Friday 15 November 2013 at The Tower Hotel in London.

Myself in the middle with Richard Habgood (right)

Construction Manager of the Year Award

I was a guest of CIOB at the Construction Manager of the Year Awards 2013 on 31 October held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, London. It was hosted by Sian Williams.

The title was given to Stephen Roome and was a very pleasant evening which allowed me to network and spread the CIAT gospel.

Making new friends

Presidential visit to Central Region and last plaque presentation

This now brings us up to date, with events from this week.

Firstly, a Presidential visit to the Central Region held at The Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame. It was good to see some familiar and unfamiliar faces when I did a presentation about the current activities of CIAT - the Regional Councillor even called it entertaining! I must have done something right!

Some of the Central Region including Gordon Cole MCIAT, Darren Bell MCIAT, Tony Keller MCIAT and David Enticknap MCIAT

Myself with the Central Region

Marjorie Smith MCIAT entertains fellow members from the Region

Then yesterday, 24 October, it was a visit to Scotland - to present the Highly Commended Alan King Award plaque to Stuart Davidson MCIAT who won it for South Lodge, Burnhouse. All plaques have now been presented and eagerly await to announce the winners for 2013 at the AGM on 16 November.

LABC and APS events

I now turn to the current month - October - which began with the LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Presidents Reception on 1 October - another opportunity to mingle with friends and colleagues new and old and to spread the CIAT word.

Then on 9 October, I was delighted to be invited once more by the APS (Association for Project Safety) to present an award at their National CDM Awards held at their Awards Dinner in the Titanic Building in Belfast - I was back once more since our Dinner Dance held there last year! I was accompanied by my wife, Val, and our Vice-President Practice Gary Mees.

All good friends... - Gary Mees, Val, myself, Richard Habgood and his wife

...and jolly good company - Myself, Paul Everall CBE HonMCIAT, Richard Habgood, Graham Watts OBE HonMCIAT, Stanley Barker-McGuire and our good ladies.

Two different inaugurations

At work, University of Wolverhampton held its graduation ceremony at the start of September and Louise Brooke-Smith, President Elect of RICS (due to become the first woman President in July 2014) received her Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology.

Louise and I

Then an inauguration of a different kind - this one was the new President of the RIBA. Along with our President Elect, Karl Grace, we attended this event at Portland Place on 11 September. Stephen Hodder MBE became the RIBA President, taking over from Angela Brady. It was good to see Stephen again and mingle with fellow peers from the built environment.

All in a blur! Myself and Stephen - two Presidents

Council approve our Strategy

My final Council meeting as Chairman took place on 7 September at Central Office.

At this meeting, Council unanimously approved the Institute's Strategy for the next five years - this has since been issued as a document to all members and will be promoted very soon.

Council meeting in full swing

July in a nutshell

On 10 July I attended the Construction Industry Council's Summer Reception held at the Goldsmith's Centre in London, It was there that the Association of Building Engineers announced that their Petition for a Royal Charter had been approved.

With that in mind, it was the eighth anniversary of the Institute receiving our Charter on 22 July.

Time for an update!

Gosh, I hadn't realised that it was so long ago since I last posted here!

Time to update you all on what I have been doing and particularly as I enter my final month as President.

My final month as President! I cannot believe that I have reached that time already - incredible and what a journey the past two years have been as I prepare to pass on the CIAT baton to Karl Grace.

Now, back to the diary and find out where I last left off!

Award for CIAT

CIAT was honoured to receive the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects Award for service to the Architects’ Benevolent Society (ABS) at the WCCA’s Election Court Dinner on 10 July held in Skinners’ Hall, London. The Award takes the shape of a hand painted plate, which this year was designed by George Ferguson CBE PPRIBA HonMCIAT.

I was there last night to accept the Award on behalf of the Institute, and I have reproduced my speech below:

With ABS representatives and Marjorie Smith MCIAT

Sing-a-longa Colin!

“As President of CIAT, I am honoured to receive this award which is something very special to us indeed. Special, as it further demonstrates the supportive and working relationship between the Institute and ABS which we have enjoyed over many decades. The ABS has helped many of our members, Architectural Technology professionals, including their families, who have not been as fortunate as us in their working or personal life. I’d like to take the opportunity to remember the late John Hadland MCIAT who was our ABS representative for many years and to thank Marjorie Smith MCIAT as our dedicated representative for ABS and is also a respected and loyal trustee for the Society. CIAT look forward to supporting and working with ABS for many more years to come.”

Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors

Had to find my sea legs on Friday 5 July when I was a guest on HMS Belfast for the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors Annual Luncheon. We dined in the atmospheric Officers Mess and it was good to network and see so many familiar faces to CIAT.

CIAT continues to enjoy its association and working relationship with the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors.

Mrs Orr joins me in the Officers Mess

Institute friends, Stan Barker-McGuire (President, ABE) and Malcolm Lelliott (President FPWS)

Welcome return to Belfast

Back to Belfast on 19 June for the Universiy of Ulster End of Year Show for their Accredited Architectural Technology degree.

Hosted by Gareth Alexander MCIAT and David Comiskey MCIAT, I was privileged to be invited as principal guest and it was a pleasure to speak to all the graduates and see all their excellent work. A number of awards were presented including those by the Northern Ireland Region who were out on force.

David Comiskey MCIAT

Eddie Weir MCIAT makes a presentation

Gareth Alexander MCIAT (far left) with an award winning student

South East Regional event June 2013

13 June found me in Southampton at the offices of ADAM Architecture for an event run by our South East Region. Alex Naraian MCIAT, the Regional Councillor for the South East Region, who works at ADAM Architecture, kindly opened his doors for an evening of presentations and CPD.

With "Measuring, Drawing, Building”, an entertaining presentation by George Saumarez-Smith and "Membership futures" by our very own Professor Sam Allwinkle PPBIAT MCIAT.

The room was full of members from the Region which was great to see and it was a pleasure to be amongst so many enthused members. Our South East Region is one to admire.

Yours truly networking

A full room of CIAT members

Sam, Alex and me

 

CIC Members' Conference and AGM

Celebrating 25 years, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) held its conference and AGM on 23-24 May for its members.

The two day event held at Ashorne Hill in Warwickshire included the AGM, an informal dinner, presentations and workshops. The keynote speaker at the dinner was Peter Hansford, Chief Construction Adviser, who gave us his vision for moving the industry forward.

The workshop identified the importance of CIC and the way it brings together Institutes to address issues as one on subjects such as sustainability and the Green Deal. It was very useful to network with like minded individuals and raise awareness of common issues which affect the built environment,

CIC is a great catalyst for driving built environment issues and is important for ensuring that all its members, including CIAT, are treated equally with a common voice.

Also good to catch up with Graham Watts OBE HonMCIAT, former Chief Executive of CIAT before he left to become Chief Executive of CIC in 1991.

Networking with fellow professionals

With Richard Habgood and Liz Reading from CIC

Taking part in the workshop

Graham Watts at the AGM

Plan of Works

Back to London once more for the official launch of the RIBA Plan of Works revised edition, in the 50th anniversary of their inception.

I was joined by Gary Mees MCIAT, Vice-President Practice at the launch held at Portland Place and CIAT is a supporter of the Plan of Works.

The RIBA Plan of Work 2013 is an innovative development of the RIBA’s established design and construction process model.  At its heart is a customisable online work plan generator, which can be used to produce practice or project specific work plans.

Visit the website to find out more: http://www.ribaplanofwork.com/

Visit to the Shard

Monday 20 May saw my return to London and hosting a Greater London Region visit to the Shard.

With over 40 people accompanying me, it was a shame that the weather was rather cloudy but it was great to visit this spectacular building and network with my peers in the London Region.

The Shard is a 72-storey skyscraper and commenced construction in March 2009, was topped out on 30 March 2012 and inaugurated on 5 July 2012. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the European Union. Renzo Piano was the Shard's architect and the glass-clad pyramidal tower has 72 habitable floors, with a viewing gallery and open-air observation deck – the UK's highest – at a height of 244.3 metres (802 ft).

The views across London were very impressive indeed and was a swift lift from the ground right up to the 72nd floor - not good for those with vertigo but certainly worth the visit if you can.

Going up!

CIAT members enjoy the Shard and its view

With Simran Bansal, BCU Architectural Technology degree student

The Shard, from below

Looking out at the South of the Thames

With George Lowe PCSAAT MCIAT, founding member of CIAT

ABE Presidential Luncheon

9 May saw my return to the House of Lords for the Association of Building Engineers (ABE) Presidential Luncheon. Another afternoon of good networking with our fellow professionals and Institutes.

I was able to meet the incoming President for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and catch up on what our two disciplines and Institutes are doing.

I wish Stan Barker-Mcguire well as President and hope he has a good forthcoming year.

Yours truly with Stephen Hodder MBE - RIBA President Elect

With 'Stan the Man' centre and flagged by Richard Habgood and me

CIAT Accreditation for Denmark university

The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is pleased to announce that it has Accredited its first bachelor programme in Denmark. VIA University College was awarded Accreditation in Principle for its bachelor programme in Architectural Technology and Construction Management.

The degree is a three and a half year full-time English taught programme and has met the standards required by CIAT for it to receive Accreditation in Principle.

Colin Orr, President said “this is another momentous moment for the Institute and Denmark joins the Republic of Ireland in our ever increasing programmes which are recognised overseas. I very much hope that this recognition will continue with other universities in Denmark, across Europe and internationally. Architectural Technology is a pivotal discipline in the built environment sector and its growth across the world is wonderful to see and for it to be acknowledged by the lead qualifying body.”   

CIAT Accredits over 30 degree programmes which can be found on our website: www.ciat.org.uk/en/careers/accredited_degrees.cfm

Back in London

Now I can bring my blog back up to date with my post recent event which happened last night when Association for Project Safety (APS) President, Richard Habgood, was elected President of the International Safety and Health Construction Co-ordinators Organisation (ISHCCO).

Myself and Karl Grace MCIAT, President Elect, were invited to a reception hosted by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the President and Directors of the Association for Project Safety (APS) at The Building Centre to celebrate Richard's recent election as the first UK President of the International Safety and Health Construction Co-ordinators Organisation (ISHCCO) for a three year term.

It was great to see Richard again and able to congratulate him in person. It was also good to catch up with other friends within the built environment sector.

Richard and me

All good friends: me, Peter Caplehorn and Karl Grace

AAE 2013 Conference

This month I had a very interesting time at the inaugural conference of the Association of Architectural Educators UK held at Nottingham Trent University.

The aim of the conference was to raise issues in architectural education and bring academics together to resolve problems, pose questions and explore further development in education.

I look forward to the papers being published.

Delegates at the conference

ARB meeting

The other week I had the pleasure of meeting up with Beatrice Fraenkel, Chair at ARB (Architects' Registration Board) and Alison Carr, Chief Executive along with Diane Dale, Practice and Technical Director at CIAT.

It is positive that the two organisations continue to enjoy a relaxed and collaborative relationship which I'm sure will continue.

Beatrice, me, Diane and Alison

United in architecture: Beatrice, me and Alison

LABC Conference

CIAT had the pleasure of supporting the LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Conference which was attended by our President Elect, Karl Grace MCIAT.

I was pleased to join Karl, as a guest of the LABC, at their Dinner on 19 March.

Details about LABC can be found at www.labc.uk.com

Not the best of photos but me and Karl at the Dinner

New membership route and Professional Assessment Panel

I recently had the pleasure of being part of the interview panel for the new Professional Assessment membership route to Chartered Membership - full details can be obtained by emailing membership@ciat.org.uk

It was great to welcome academics from the Republic of Ireland to Chartered Membership of CIAT.

The Professional Assessment Panel - me, Paul Laycock MCIAT and Vice-President Education , Norman Wienand MCIAT

With fellow academics and newly Chartered Members from the Republic of Ireland: (from left) Robin Stubbs, Gordon Chisholm, me and Brian Dempsey

Construction Youth Trusts Duke of Gloucester Young Achievers Scheme

On Wednesday 13 March, I was honoured to be a guest at the Construction Youth Trusts Duke of Gloucester Young Achievers Scheme.

The Duke of Gloucester's Young Achievers Scheme is an opportunity for exceptional young professionals to be commended and celebrated for their achievements.

The event was held in Portland Place and was another demonstration of exceptional young talent in the built environment sector.

It was an opportunity to also see old friends and make new ones

From left: Nick Raynsford MP, Barry Clarke President ICE, me and Graham Watts, CIC Chief Executive

March already?

I haven't been on here much and sorry for not keeping it updated as regularly as I would like. There is so much going on at the moment at the Institute and in my working life that putting finger to keyboard has not been possible.

On Saturday (9 March) I Chaired our first Council meeting of 2013 and it was here that the new route for membership was approved and will be launched on 1 May 2013. If you would like details on this method of qualifying then please contact our Membership Department (membership@ciat.org.uk) who are busy getting everything ready for the route to go live.

If you want to keep up to date with what is happening at CIAT, then please do follow us on Twitter (@ciatechnologist), on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CIATechnologist) or join us on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/chartered-institute-of-architectural-technologists/1a/b9/4bb).

For members, there is an additional unofficial group on LinkedIn which you may like to also join - search for the CIAT Member Hub. LinkedIn is a great way to network with other members and you can do this through both our official presence and the aforementioned Hub.

I'm always pleased to hear from you with any thoughts or comments so please do email me - president@ciat.org.uk

Evening with Harry Rich

Wolverhampton and District Society of Architects Evening with Harry Rich CEO RIBA

Last Monday (11 February), I had a pleasant evening in the company of Harry Rich, Chief Executive of RIBA, held at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton. A talk was given by Harry on the value of architecture and achieving good standards within the built environment.

I was there wearing three hats! As a Chartered Architectural Technologist, an architect and as a representative from the University of Wolverhampton. It was a good chance to network with fellow professionals in the local area.

Harry Rich at the bar

Yours truly networking

Chinese New Year

What happened to January? I suddenly find myself in February and no blogs from me!

To make up for a lack of blogging, time to wish our Hong Kong Centre and other members a Happy New Year with the Chinese New Year on 10 February - I hope it is a successful one for you all.

There is a lot of work going on at CIAT and there are exciting times ahead which I look forward to updating you on over the course of the year.