AHMM founders and past and future presidents also sign open letter

A host of heavyweight architects have thrown their backing behind a campaign to get architects from more diverse backgrounds elected to the RIBA Council in time for the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

David Adjaye, Richard Rogers, Deborah Saunt and Alison Brooks are among the signatories of an open letter addressed to all RIBA members.

They back a campaign begun by Elsie Owusu and the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust (SLCT) to see 25% of the council’s 60 seats filled with minority ethnic, LGBTQ and female candidates by 2018.

There are 14 SLCT-backed candidates standing for election (see list below). Voting opened earlier this month and closes on July 26. More than 50 candidates are standing.

The letter (below), which was also signed by RIBA past presidents Angela Brady and Owen Luder and president-elect Ben Derbyshire, says: “We are delighted that this initiative is boosting equality, inclusion and diversity in UK architecture as well as encouraging talented young people of all backgrounds to join our profession.”

They added: “We thank Baroness Lawrence and SLCT for promoting this historic initiative and wish all the RIBA+25 candidates well in the elections.

“We look forward to the positive changes which, if elected as members of Council, these inspirational architects and students will help to make – to the benefit of the RIBA and UK architecture as a whole.”

 

Open letter to RIBA members

RIBA+25 & Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust 2018 Initiative

In 2018, we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a brilliant young man who wanted to become an architect.

After Stephen’s death in 1993, his mother Doreen, now Baroness Lawrence, founded the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust (SLCT). The purpose of the Trust is to combat all forms of discrimination in the construction industries and encourage talented young people of all backgrounds to choose architecture and construction as a career.

25 years later, much has improved in architecture, with the international recognition of wonderful talents such as Dame Zaha Hadid and many others from diverse cultures. However, statistics also show that Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME), women and men are still under-represented in architecture and construction.

With support from SLCT, 14 excellent candidates from diverse communities are standing in the current elections, with the aim of attaining 25% BAME, women and LGBTQ representation on the RIBA Council by 2018. We are delighted that this initiative is boosting equality, inclusion and diversity in UK architecture as well as encouraging talented young people of all backgrounds to join our profession.

We thank Baroness Lawrence and SLCT for promoting this historic initiative and wish all the RIBA+25 candidates well in the elections. We look forward to the positive changes which, if elected as members of Council, these inspirational architects and students will help to make - to the benefit of the RIBA and UK architecture as a whole.

Signed

Lord Rogers of Riverside CH, principal, Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners

Sir David Adjaye OBE, principal, Adjaye Associates

Simon Allford, principal, AHMM

Angela Brady OBE PPRIBA, principal, Brady Mallalieu Architects

Alison Brooks, principal, Alison Brooks Architects

Elspeth Clements, principal, Clements & Porter Architects

Ged Couser, principal, BDP

Ben Derbyshire, RIBA president-elect, principal, HTA Architects

Jonathan Hall, principal, AHMM

Ivan Harbour, princpal, Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners

Will Hunter, founding director, London School of Architecture

Owen Luder, CBE PPRIBA

Paul Monaghan, principal AHMM

Peter Morris, principal, AHMM

Peter Murray, chairman, New London Architecture

Elsie Owusu OBE, principal, Elsie Owusu Architects

Prof David Porter, chairman, AA School of Architecture

Yasmin Shariff, principal, Sharp Architects

Deborah Saunt, principal, DSDHA

Al Scott, principal, If_Do Architects

Graham Stirk, principal, Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners

RIBA+25 candidates for Council

    Alice Asafu-Adjaye

    Yemi Aladerun

    Jordan Bizzell

    Ibrahim Buhari

    Simone de Gale

    Stephanie Edwards

    Lanre Gbolade

    Dona Hasanaj

    Indy Johar

    Michael Martin

    Christopher Nasah

    Timothy Onyenobi

    Rahim Rahemtulla

    Selasi Setufe

 

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