Construction has begun on Ian Ritchie Architects’ new stainless steel and glass extension. Designed in-house, with Arup and Rybka Battle, the main contractor is Mansell and MACE are project managers. Completion is December 2002.

The jury awarded prizes and commendations in each of 9 European regions and selected an overall winner from these. The awards will be presented at a gala evening on October 31st during the Glasstec Exhibition in Dusseldorf. The jury consisted of: Pekka Helin (Finland) Sergey Kisselev (Russia) Ian Ritchie (UK) Matthias Sauerbruch (Germany) Elias Torres (Spain) Klus-Peter Schulz (Pilkington Germany) Dr Mark Swenarton (Publishing Editor Architecture Today).

The Plymouth Theatre Royal’s new £5.8m Production Centre on reclaimed land in the Plym estuary is now approaching completion. The project’s unique ‘soft’ woven phosphor bronze cladding to the rehearsal rooms is now being installed. The material was specially woven for the project in Liverpool.

The 1000 tonne lifting crane is now in position in O’Connell Street and the delivery of the first Spire elements is expected in the early part of December. The final shot peening finishing of the stainless steel Spire elements by MIC at Radley Engineering has begun in Dungarven and final inspections begin on 2^nd December. The final factory test assembly of the cast and machined spiral base elements will be inspected on 2nd December at Westley Engineering, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, near Birmingham.

After delays through the Irish courts, the Spire of Dublin, the new monument in O’Connell Street, Dublin, will be prefabricated between now and September, and transported and installed in the autumn of 2002.

Bertie Aherne, Ireland’s Prime Minister (an Taoiseach) together with the Lord Mayor of Dublin officially launched the beginning of the construction of the Spire of Dublin at a press briefing in O’Connell Street on 6^th April. The regeneration of the area and the renewal of O’Connell Street, Dublin and Ireland’s main street in which the Spire is the centrepiece, is an ambitious project costing more than 300 million euros.

The School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Ritchie CBE RA RIBA FRSA as Visiting Professor of Architectural Engineering.

Ian Ritchie was a member of the International jury for the 8^th Brunel Awards, held at the Academie d’Architecture in Paris on 5^th and 6^th July 2001

London’s Time Out Magazine July 25th 2001 lists the Concert Platform among 50 reasons why London is the most beautiful city in the world.