Architecture lecture series launches at RGU

The Mackie Ramsay Taylor Lecture Series 2007 at RGU's Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment continued with a talk from Professor Stuart MacDonald

The Mackie Ramsay Taylor Lecture Series 2007 at RGU's Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment continued with a talk from Professor Stuart MacDonald on Thursday 30 November.

Professor MacDonald is Head of Gray's School of Art and joined the School in July, after several years as the Director of The Lighthouse in Glasgow, Scotland's National Centre for Architecture and Design.

At The Lighthouse Professor MacDonald led the Centre's GBP13 million development and opening during Glasgow's reign as UK city of Architecture and Design in 1999.

He played a leading role in several key networks including the European Forum on Architecture, The Bureau of European Design Associations, the Art Noveau and Gaudi networks and the European Design Forum.

Stuart MacDonald studied Fine Art at Gray's School of Art and later completed a PhD at the Architecture School of the University of Liverpool.

After an early career as a teacher, he worked for Strathclyde, Glasgow's economic region as a senior education adviser, before becoming involved in Glasgow's 1996 International Festival of Design and the Glasgow 1999 UK City of Architecture and Design Festival.

He has served on numerous national and international bodies, committees and working groups concerned with art, architecture, design, education and heritage.

He is a board member of the UK Design Council and the Creative and Cultural Industries Sector Skills Council, and is currently an external examiner at the University of Dundee.

He was recently made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The lecture series is again sponsored by architects Mackie, Ramsay Taylor (MRT) who have been the lead architects in many high profile projects including Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital.

The lecture series will run weekly on Thursday evenings until May 2007.

Students will have the opportunity to take part in workshops with the weekly speakers and the public will be invited to each Thursday lecture at 5pm in lecture theatre SB42 at The Scott Sutherland School on Garthdee Road, with a minimum of one lecture per month including a free reception by invitation.

The lecture is delivered in conjunction with the University's architecture society '5710' which derives its name from Aberdeen's lines of longitude and latitude.

Set up by students in 1989 with past speakers including Nicholas Grimshaw, Gareth Hoskins and Richard Murphy, it gives students an understanding of the realities of architectural practice, as well as being a source of inspiration for their own work in the School.

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