In May 2005 the charity ARK Education invited Ian Ritchie Architects to design one of a network of seven inner city schools it is to sponsor under the Government’s Academies programme.
This month ARK Education received confirmation that its Westminster project can proceed.
The Academy is to provide education for 892 children and will occupy two sites in the Lisson Grove area in the City of Westminster. The Academy will operate an extended school policy and engage the local community.
Building work is expected to commence on the Cosway Street site in 3Q 2007 and on the Penfold Street site in 1Q 2008.

Ian Ritchie has accepted to act as the international juror in the assessment of a limited, two-stage architectural competition for an approximately 200,000m² development in Dublin.
The site is close to the city centre and will be developed as a high quality mixed-use scheme and it is the client’s intention to create a world class example of high quality, innovative high density residential, retail development and office development.

Ian Ritchie has accepted the invitation to be the External Examiner for the new M.Arch course at Oxford Brookes University. The course, which will start in September 2006, will be directed by the internationally acclaimed architectural teacher Prof. David Greene.
The one-year (12 month) course is conceived as a high-level design programme. It is a post-professional course that will appeal primarily to architects and designers from the UK and overseas who wish to develop their design skills to the highest levels by undertaking an intensive programme of study. Speculative research in design will be a key part of the course, with a particular emphasis on making and its role in design.
The new M.Arch is the first new architectural programme to be launched at Oxford Brookes since the appointment of Prof Mark Swenarton as head of architecture in September 2005.

Dublin City Council has confirmed that The Spire Trust will become active following the inaugural meeting scheduled for March 2006.
The Spire Trust funds from exploiting the economic marketing value of the Spire will be made available through grants to promote the arts, particularly among those who are marginalised from participating in them.

Ian Ritchie participated in a conference discussing the urban renewal of the city, and also lectured at the University.

Ian Ritchie Architects designed a tower containing 100 apartments as their contribution to the successful mixed development bid by Berkeley Homes to regenerate Woodberry Down, Hackney.
www.berkeleyhomes.co.uk
www.hackney.gov.uk

Robin Cross and Lisa Silver both passed brilliantly the Part III exams.

October 21st 2005, Westfield, Multiplex and Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd agreed the following Press statement:

“As a result of changes in the ownership of The White City project, Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd are no longer involved with the main scheme of retail and leisure. They are continuing as architects for most of the new public transport elements and some external works of the White City project.”