Royal Society of Ulster Architects
Encyclopedia
The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) is the professional body for registered architects in Northern Ireland
. Chartered RIBA
members in Northern Ireland are automatically members of the RSUA. RSUA Members use the suffix RSUA and also may use RIBA.
The current membership of the council is:
Together with co-opted members Dr Chris Tweed, representing Queen's University, and Prof Ruth Morrow, representing the University of Ulster
.
and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
. The RSUA, as part of its Development Plan 2010 – 2012, in agreement with the board of PLACE, has moved that PLACE will become a separate legal entity from the RSUA with charitable status.
, on a bi-monthly basis. In effect this publication is not so much a journal as it is a magazine; that is, it does not report on the proceedings of the society but rather provides an overview of new architecture in Northern Ireland in the previous months, in addition to brief commentary on other artistic endeavours, primarily visual arts.
Perspective is written and edited by a RSUA committee and is published by the Ulster Tatler group.
The RSUA awards are adjudicated by a panel of independent judges, including experts from outside Northern Ireland
—for example Dublin City Architect Jim Barrett held the chair in 2006. However, members of the RSUA council and the editorial committee of Perspective are frequently favoured with awards, including (in 2006) Hackett
+Hall, Alan Jones
Architects and Todd
Architects.
to a Northern Ireland-born student of architecture. In addition, the Society awards the annual RSUA Silver Medal
and RSUA Bronze Medal
, analogous to the RIBA President's Medals.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Chartered RIBA
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
members in Northern Ireland are automatically members of the RSUA. RSUA Members use the suffix RSUA and also may use RIBA.
Council
The supreme governing body is the Council. The Society members are entitled to nominate fellow members to the Council and to vote in elections. In practice, however, the make-up of the Council tends to reflect a Belfast-centred, academically-biased organisation, rather than reflecting the heterogeneous mix of Northern Ireland architectural practice.The current membership of the council is:
- Rachel Bevan, Sustainability Convenor
- Mervyn BlackMervyn BlackMervyn Black is a Northern Ireland architect and urban designer; and partner in Hall Black Douglas Architects.-Professional activities:In 2004-2006 he served as President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects ....
, PresidentPresident of the RSUAThe President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects is its chief executive officer and its representative to the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The President is elected by the membership of the Society, usually for a term of two years...
2004-06 - John ColeJohn Cole, architectJohn Cole is an architect from Northern Ireland, working in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.-Professional activities:In 1996-98 he served as President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects .-References:*...
, Constitution Convenor; Past PresidentPresident of the RSUAThe President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects is its chief executive officer and its representative to the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The President is elected by the membership of the Society, usually for a term of two years...
1996-98 - Paul Crowe, Awards Convenor
- John FitzGerald, Exhibitions Convenor
- Stephen Foster, Project Management Convenor
- Mark HackettMark HackettMark Hackett is a Northern Ireland architect and a past member of the RSUA Council. Having previous experience with Belfast-based practice Mackel & Doherty Architects, he set up a private practice with Alastair Hall following their successful entry for the Lyric Theatre design competition, which...
, Lectures Convenor - Alastair Hall, Publications Convenor
- Yvonne Huey, Honorary Secretary
- Norman Hutchinson, Head of Professional Services Division
- Natalie Irvine, Yearbook Convenor
- Alan JonesAlan Jones (architect)Alan Montgomery Jones is an architect and academic, and a member of the RSUA Council from 1998 to 2006 and 2007 to 2010. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. From 2002 to 2006 he was a Vice President of the RSUA, in charge of its foundation wing. From 2001 to 2002 he was Hon Vice President of...
, Head of Foundation Division - Sarah Lappin, Education Convenor
- Trevor LeakerTrevor LeakerTrevor Andrew Leaker is a Northern Ireland architect engaged with Scott Wilson, international consultancy group providing leading, sustainable, integrated solutions to meet the planning, engineering, management and environmental needs of four principal market sectors: transportation, property,...
, Perspective Convenor - Ciaran MackelCiarán MackelCiarán Mackel, BSc, Dip. Arch, Dip. Project Management, MSc Design, RIBA MRIAI, is a Belfast-born architect and urban designer; and Practice Principal in ARD Ciaran Mackel Architects....
, Competitions Convenor, Past PresidentPresident of the RSUAThe President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects is its chief executive officer and its representative to the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The President is elected by the membership of the Society, usually for a term of two years...
2002-04 - Clyde MarkwellClyde MarkwellClyde Markwell is an architect and urban designer from Northern Ireland; and partner in Knox & Markwell Architects.-Professional activities:In 1998-2000 he served as President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects .-References:...
, Practice Affairs Convenor; Past PresidentPresident of the RSUAThe President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects is its chief executive officer and its representative to the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The President is elected by the membership of the Society, usually for a term of two years...
1998-2000 - Robin McKelvey, Council Member
- Paul Mongan, Honorary Treasurer
- Martina Murphy, Representative to the RIAI
- Peter Niblock, Head of Enterprises Division
- Marcus Patton, Conservation Convenor
- Colin Shaw, CPD Convenor
- John Tate, CIG Representative
- Barrie ToddBarrie ToddBarrie Samuel Todd is a Northern Ireland architect and urban designer; and partner in Todd Architects.-Professional activities:...
, PLACE Convenor; Past PresidentPresident of the RSUAThe President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects is its chief executive officer and its representative to the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The President is elected by the membership of the Society, usually for a term of two years...
2000-02
Together with co-opted members Dr Chris Tweed, representing Queen's University, and Prof Ruth Morrow, representing the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
.
Bookshop
The Society operates a bookshop at 2 Mount Charles, Belfast. This bookshop is the Northern Ireland regional branch of the RIBA bookshop and as such caters mainly to architect members of the RIBA. The Society's premises have recently undergone refurbihment and extension to designs by Hackett and Hall Architects; both principals in the practice are also RSUA Council members.PLACE
PLACE Architecture & Built Environment Centre has been a part of the RSUA since 2004, when it was founded by the Society in partnership with Belfast City CouncilBelfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland....
. The RSUA, as part of its Development Plan 2010 – 2012, in agreement with the board of PLACE, has moved that PLACE will become a separate legal entity from the RSUA with charitable status.
Perspective magazine
The Society issues a journal, PerspectivePerspective Magazine
Perspective is the journal of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects. Published bi-monthly, it features reviews of recently-completed buildings in Northern Ireland, together with book reviews and local arts updates....
, on a bi-monthly basis. In effect this publication is not so much a journal as it is a magazine; that is, it does not report on the proceedings of the society but rather provides an overview of new architecture in Northern Ireland in the previous months, in addition to brief commentary on other artistic endeavours, primarily visual arts.
Perspective is written and edited by a RSUA committee and is published by the Ulster Tatler group.
RSUA Design Awards
The RSUA Design Awards are architectural, artistic and cultural awards made annually by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, celebrating the work of architects in Northern Ireland. The awards mainly focus on architecture, and are separate from the RIBA Awards, although the RSUA is a constituent part of the RIBA. Primary among these awards is the Liam MacCormick Prize, awarded to the building judged to be best overall in the relevant year.The RSUA awards are adjudicated by a panel of independent judges, including experts from outside Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
—for example Dublin City Architect Jim Barrett held the chair in 2006. However, members of the RSUA council and the editorial committee of Perspective are frequently favoured with awards, including (in 2006) Hackett
Mark Hackett
Mark Hackett is a Northern Ireland architect and a past member of the RSUA Council. Having previous experience with Belfast-based practice Mackel & Doherty Architects, he set up a private practice with Alastair Hall following their successful entry for the Lyric Theatre design competition, which...
+Hall, Alan Jones
Alan Jones (architect)
Alan Montgomery Jones is an architect and academic, and a member of the RSUA Council from 1998 to 2006 and 2007 to 2010. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. From 2002 to 2006 he was a Vice President of the RSUA, in charge of its foundation wing. From 2001 to 2002 he was Hon Vice President of...
Architects and Todd
Barrie Todd
Barrie Samuel Todd is a Northern Ireland architect and urban designer; and partner in Todd Architects.-Professional activities:...
Architects.
Role in education
The Society is heavily involved in architectural education and awards the annual Alan Barnes Travelling ScholarshipAlan Barnes Travelling Scholarship
The Alan Barnes Travelling Scholarship is an award made annually at the discretion of the President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in conjunction with other adjudicators...
to a Northern Ireland-born student of architecture. In addition, the Society awards the annual RSUA Silver Medal
RSUA Silver Medal
The RSUA Silver Medal is awarded annually by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects to the final-year student of architecture at University of Ulster Belfast or Queen's University Belfast who, in the eyes of the assessors has produced the most successful major project.In the sense that it is...
and RSUA Bronze Medal
RSUA Bronze Medal
The RSUA Bronze Medal is awarded annually by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects to the student of architecture in the final year of the BA course at University of Ulster Belfast and the BSc course at Queen's University Belfast who, in the eyes of the assessors has produced the most successful...
, analogous to the RIBA President's Medals.