Joint visit helps cement closer relations

Aug 31 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE Institution of Civil Engineers and The Royal Institute of British Architects are forming a closer partnership in the North-East.

To cement the closer working relationship, the national heads of both organisations visited Northumbria University, where they are set to share offices and resources.

Tom Foulkes, Ice director general, was joined by Richard Hastillow, Riba chief executive, on the visit to the region.

Mr Foulkes and Mr Hastillow visited the university where, along with Ice North-East regional manager Stephen Larkin and Riba’s head of strategic partnerships, Jon Jo MacNamara, they were shown around by Dave Greenwood of the university’s School of the Built Environment and Peter Beacock of the School of Architecture.

Mr Larkin said: “Since the start of Ice’s restructuring to match the regional development agency boundaries in 2006, our presence in the region has grown and we have started to build our North-East support team.

“Like many professional organisations, we thrive on working with those who share agendas and, due to the nature of our work we have a real affinity with RIBA.

“Sharing offices and other resources, we will be able to grow and develop together as a cohesive force in the North-East’s built environment.”

Mr MacNamara said: “This new link will enable us to build on this capacity and fulfil part of our agenda to strengthen partnerships with our allied professions in the built environment as well as provide new services to our members and fulfil more opportunities to promote the positive benefit and impact which good design can have within our region.”