The successful contractors for the Spire of Dublin in O’Connell Street are SIAC and Radley Engineering. Both are Irish companies, and were successful against strong tender submissions from companies and other joint ventures in mainland Europe and the UK. SIAC is managing the joint venture and undertaking the site groundworks and services installations. Radley Engineering based in Dungarven, Co. Waterford in Southern Ireland, promotes itself as Ireland’s foremost engineering company specialising in quality stainless steel fabrications including pressure vessels, reactors, heat exchangers, and storage tanks in a variety of materials including titanium and 316L stainless steel. 316L is the specified alloy for the Spire. The stainless steel plate in thicknesses from 10 to 35mm is being produced and polished in France, rolled in Scotland, and all the workshop fabrication of the Spire carried out by Radley.

Ian Ritchie Architects with Schlaich Bergermann und Partner, engineers and Allen Jones artist are one of four teams selected to proceed to the first stage of the competition. Concept ideas for the 140m long bridge with a 19m long fully opening section will be submitted by 16^th October. The opening section will be designed to operate up to 3,000 times a year and to be operational in winds up to 70mph.

The first ‘fougère’ pylons designed by Ian Ritchie Architects with RFR and Kathryn Gustafson, have been erected by Electricité de France, (RTE - Réseau Transmission Electricité), either side of the Rhone as part of the new Tricastin - Tavel 400kV high voltage line. The installation includes one pair of ‘S’ type and one pair of ‘N’ type. The pylons have been painted in contrasting blue and yellow as they lie within a military flight path along the Rhone valley. The painted design resulted from a competition among French art students in 2001.

Following presentations from Richard Rogers Partneship, Pringle Richards & Sharratt and Denton Corker Marshall, the jury has made its recommendation to the Lord Chancellor. A formal announcement is anticipated at the end of July. The jury was chaired by Professor Sir Christopher Frayling - Rector & Vice-Provost of the Royal College of Art, and the following members: Sir Hayden Phillips - Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor Mr. Justice Penry Davey - Senior Presiding Judge, Northern Circuit Sir Richard MacCormac - Independent Architectural Adviser Ian Ritchie - Architectural Adviser to the Lord Chancellor Christine Mayer - Circuit Administrator, Northern Circuit Dr. Alexi Marmot - CABE Enabler Councillor Richard Leese - Leader of Manchester City Council Robert Angel - Project Sponsor, The Court Service.

Ian Ritchie is giving a lecture on 14^th February at the Royal University of Fine Arts, Stockholm. He talk will focus on glass and recent developments explored by his office with new materials.

Milan City Council have confirmed that they will be dismantling Alba di Milano from Piazza Duca d’Aosta in front of Milan’s main railway station. The reason given is that they did not expect the sculpture to mask so much of the station facade. The City Council has accepted full responsibility for the competition site. A new location will be chosen following a meeting of the Monuments Commission in Milan in February 2002.

Ian Ritchie will be giving a paper on February 25th at the second of the two forums examining how architects and artists are increasingly working together and exploring the different sensibilities they bring to creating urban environments.

“Cities are a combination of design and accident where the visions of sculptors and architects interweave with necessary infrastructure, the ambitions of politicians, and the commercial aims of developers” (Royal Academy of Arts)

For further information and tickets email :events.lectures@royalacademy.org.uk

Ian Ritchie Architects have been appointed by a major hospital provider to develop new strategic and detail design approaches to large hospital design.

Ian Ritchie will be giving a lecture to the Fine Art graduates at the Royal Academy Schools on Friday 1st March.

The London Regatta Centre located at the Royal Albert Dock in London’s east end, and the Scotland’s Homes of Tomorrow in Glasgow’s east end both received awards at the Civic Trust Awards Ceremony held on 18^th April at the beautiful Royal College of Physicians building designed by the late Sir Denys Lasdun.
A formal presentation of the plaque for each project will be made later in the year at the respective buildings.