Piling starts this month on the Whitecity project.

The Spire of Dublin, submitted on behalf of the design team by Arup, has been shorlisted in the International Section of the Awards.

The Spire of Dublin was officially inaugurated at a ceremony yesterday, 7th July, by the Mayor of Dublin, and last Friday night, for the very first time, the Spire’s architectural and aviation lighting was switched on, and the logarithmic bronze base revealed. The architectural light illuminates the upper stainless steel surface of nearly 12,000 tiny holes in the structure.

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851

After the successful award of early Fellowships for research into ‘Landscape and Modernity’, ‘Urban Issues’ and, more recently, into ‘Human Habitation’ and ‘Transport for the Built Environment’, the Commission now intends to make a further, similar award.

Demolition and preparatory works have begun on site and construction is expected to begin early autumn.

Plymouth Theatre Royal Production Centre has received the prestigious RFAC Trust Building of the Year Award 2003. The shortlisted projects included The Centre for Mathematical Studies, Cambridge University by Edward Cullinan Architects; Manchester Art Gallery by Michael Hopkins and Partners; Laban Centre for Dance by Herzog & de Meuron. Several programmes covering the projects, judging and awards will be shown on SKY/Artsworld during the next year.

Ian Ritchie Architects have now occupied the new stainless steel and glass extension. It was designed in-house, and the construction managed by MACE. The project is now featured on our web site.

As part of the Theatre Royal Plymouth’s 21^st birthday celebrations, TR2, the new Production and Education Centre at Cattedown, Plymouth, is opening its doors to the public for a special preview on the May 5^th Bank Holiday Monday, prior to its official grand opening by Their Royal Highnesses Earl and Countess of Wessex, on Tuesday 6^th May.

Ian Ritchie will be giving the 2^nd Bossom Lecture 2003 at the RSA London on 17 June at 6.30pm. His lecture is titled: “Design in need of a Compass”.