Member Dues Tax Relief Announcement

In an effort to make membership more accessible and maintain a high value for members the board is pleased to announce that all aspects of the AIA UK dues now qualify for tax relief! The AIA UK, AIA International and National organizations are now acknowledged as professional organizations allowing members' dues to be claimed for tax relief. The HMRC logs this information HERE.

The list contains three references to the AIA, one for each level of dues a member pays (National, International, United Kingdom) and notes the date from which one can claim tax relief on the dues. One will notice that the AIA UK portion of the dues can be claimed from April 2023 while the National and International portions are tax deductible from April 2024. 

This notice applies to not only those who pay dues directly but also firms which pay for AIA dues on behalf of a member. The AIA UK suggests that members that have any questions on this contact their employer, the HMRC or their tax preparer.

2024 Pub Quiz At The College Arms

Photo by Adelina Koleva, AIA.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, members of the AIA UK community and friends gathered at the College Arms in London for a relaxed evening of architectural trivia and general knowledge over drinks. The event, free to attend and open to everyone, was a great opportunity to bring people together, whether in pre-formed teams or solo participants looking to join forces on the night.

The evening began at the Axalta London Colour Experience Room, where attendees enjoyed a warm welcome by AIA UK sponsor representative Dami Babalola who generously provided drinks (matcha lattes!) and snacks (cleverly chosen Skittles – so visitors could “taste the rainbow”). Axalta’s vibrant showroom, showcasing an astonishing 700 powder coating colours, provided a visually engaging start to the event.  The range of powder-coating options – some developed for appearance, others for durability – offered plenty of inspiration for anyone with a passion for colour.

By 6:45, the group had migrated across the street to the College Arms, where the pub quiz got underway in a private area downstairs. The event was championed by Bea Sennewald, longtime organiser of the AIA UK pub quiz, with assistance by Adelina Koleva, who helped in preparing and scoring questions. Michael Lischer also played a valuable impromptu role as master of ceremonies.

There was a total of five teams of various sizes, the smallest of which comprised only of two (exceptionally knowledgeable, and very determined!) board members. Questions were a mix of architectural trivia and broader general knowledge which kept everyone entertained and challenged in equal measure. Axalta ensured participants stayed on their toes by contributing a special round of questions focusing on colour, which made for a great learning experience to round of the earlier visit to the showroom.

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After a spirited contest, the team made up of a medley of solo participants - students and young professionals – emerged victorious, reeling in the top prize of a bottle of champagne (and some well-earned bragging rights). Congratulations! Importantly, the evening provided a chance for architects, designers, sponsors, and enthusiasts to connect, relax, and enjoy each others company in an informal setting.

Thank you to everyone who joined, and a special thanks to Axalta for their generous sponsorship and for hosting the pre-quiz drinks. We hope to see even more of you at our next event!

Written by Adelina Koleva, AIA

Beale & Co Expands Global Presence with New Office Launch in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

International construction and insurance law firm - and AIA UK sponsor - Beale & Co announced today the opening of a new office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The office enhances Beale & Co’s wider growth strategy in its key global construction markets, supporting its Canadian and international clients with their construction and infrastructure project needs for contract drafting and negotiation, collaborative contract work, project bid / support work, project advisory work and strategic advice on risk management and disputes.

Beale & Co’s new office in Canada will be led by construction and infrastructure lawyer Andrés Durán, an Ontario and BC qualified lawyer who was formerly SVP Legal Services and General Counsel at one of the largest construction and infrastructure services companies in Canada.

Andrés joins as a Partner with over 15 years’ experience working in the infrastructure sector in Canada, with significant expertise in construction, operations and maintenance, and other general infrastructure matters. He has worked with a wide range of public and private sector companies and agencies in bringing marquee projects to completion and into operation across Canada. He has also overseen and managed complex disputes and insurance litigation during his in-house career.

Andrés strengthens Beale & Co’s international contracts and projects advisory team, led by Will Buckby and comprising over 20 experienced lawyers.

Opening an office in Canada reinforces Beale & Co’s commitment to developing its international platform, which currently includes offices in England, Ireland, Scotland, and the UAE, that collectively work across 60 countries and five continents.

Antony Smith comments: “The construction, energy and infrastructure sector in Canada is booming and the opportunities for contractors and consultants are vast. The Firm is already well connected with many of these firms operating in Canada, either through work on Canadian or on international projects. With our strategy having always been to follow our clients, an office in Toronto is a natural expansion of Beale & Co’s international team and provides an even greater opportunity to support our clients more broadly.”

Andrés Durán, says: “Beale & Co’s expansion to Canada represents a significant opportunity for the construction and infrastructure market here. As something I have been a part of for over 15 years, I know that there is a demand for additional international boutique legal support in this area focussed on the needs, opportunities and challenges faced in the industry.”

Beale & Co has over 60 years’ experience providing specialised expert legal advice to the construction, engineering, infrastructure, and insurance sectors globally, with over 120 lawyers spread across its offices in England, Ireland, Scotland, the UAE and now Canada.

*Beale & Co is an international law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. As such, Beale & Co LLP in Canada is a separate and distinct legal entity from Beale & Company Solicitors LLP in England and Wales, Beale & Co LLP in Ireland, and Beale & Company (Middle East). For further information about these matters please refer to the Legal Notices page of the Beale & Co website here.

For further information, please contact:

Katie Garrett, Head of Business Development

E: k.garrett@beale-law.com

T: +44 (0) 20 7469 0470

AIA CONTINENTAL EUROPE CONFERENCE / Sofia, Bulgaria – Ancient Places in a Modern World

View from the Conference hotel of government buildings with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the distance and a yellow brick boulevard in the foreground.

There must be some architects who prefer not to travel, who relish their home grown attractions, and perhaps - as all architects aspire to do - even add to them.  But there is also another group of architects that delights in exploring unfamiliar places, venturing outside comfort zones, trekking across the world, seeking new experiences.   Some of these architects no doubt thoroughly research their destinations prior to arrival so they can quickly comprehend it.

However, this article is dedicated to an even more select group of intrepid, trekker architects - those AIA members who love to explore, but who arrive at a new destination without even the faintest idea of what they are about to experience.

Sixty or so such architects took it in good faith to visit Bulgaria for the 2024 October AIA Continental Europe Conference.  Many of them registered on the understanding that they would be served a programme of iconic buildings, dramatic landscapes, generous food and even better camaraderie - all organised by others for their effortless consumption. 

Fortunately, the conference organisers were up to the task.  Any AIA conference organisation is not at all easy, but it helps satisfy the vague expectations of the unprepared when the destination is one of Europe’s ‘best kept secrets’.  Perhaps WHY Bulgaria has remained a secret can be found in its complex and difficult history.

The span of Sofia’s history is manifest in the range of its architectural styles. A 4th century church cohabits with the early 20th century mineral baths (now a museum).

Ancient drinking fountains supply the Sofia inhabitants with mineral water, while monuments to 19th century revolutionary heroes overlook busy squares.

Bulgaria’s history began with the Thracians, then moved on to the Romans and Byzantines.  After a period of Bulgarian wealth as a strong European power during intervals in the 8th to 10th and the 12th to 13th centuries, it was subjected to Ottoman rule starting in the late 1300s.  The country achieved limited autonomy in the mid-1800s, but then local and world wars brought another period of decline and chaos. After being on the losing side in both WWI and II, it fell into the Soviet sphere until the 1990s. Bulgaria finally became a member of the European Union in 2007.  

However, to understand Bulgaria’s cultural identity - and the otherwise seemingly long ‘gap’ in its architectural legacy from Byzantine/ Early Medieval to Baroque - one disastrous historical period must be more fully acknowledged.  Through neglect and isolation under 500 years of Ottoman rule, a once great medieval power missed the Renaissance, the Great Ages of Exploration and Scientific Discovery, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.  Meanwhile, its population sheltered away in small, difficult to access towns and mountain villages.

For those who are serious about history and even more serious about a more detailed history, please check out as a bare minimum Wikipedia HERE. There is no shame in researching a destination’s history after one’s departure.

Thursday  Bulgaria is now determined to regain its place in the modern world and enthusiastically welcomed the AIA CE Conference at an evening reception – with local musicians (all music credits can be found at the end of the article) – held in the Bulgarian Union of Architects. 

The US Embassy Cultural Attaché, Eric Brassil and the CEO of ‘Foundation America for Bulgaria’, Nancy Schiller, both greeted the attendees.  Local dignitaries making presentations included the President of the Bulgarian Institute of Architects, Arch. Petar Dikov, and the former Minister of Regional Planning, Arch. Belin Mollov.  Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA, the 2015 AIA National President, was a surprise guest at the event.

An unprecedented letter written on behalf of the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, and read out at the reception, underlined the national importance given to architectural recognition:  ‘I am confident that this conference will make Bulgaria better known in the world’.  

Event organiser, Rada Doytcheva, FAIA, prepared an overview presentation entitled ‘The Stepping Stones of Culture in Bulgaria’.  Its graphic timeline established Bulgaria’s cultural heritage in relation to Western Europe and Mediterranean cultural development and introduced the conference theme – ‘Ancient Places in a Modern World.’

From an image loving architect’s perspective, ‘Stepping Stones’ puts Wikipedia’s history in its place.  See HERE.

Event organiser, Rada Doytcheva, FAIA; and guests, Arch. Petar Dikov, President of the Bulgarian Institute of Architects (SAB); Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA, 2015 AIA National President; and Eric Brassil, Cultural Attache US Embassy in Bulgaria, greet the audience. 

Sitting with the AIA CE audience, other dignitaries, Nancy Schiller, CEO Foundation America for Bulgaria, sponsor for the Plovdiv event (front) and Zdravko Petrov, Founder Historic Routes (2nd Row), await their speaking slots.

Friday A morning walking tour of downtown Sofia began along delightful and unexpected yellow brick boulevards and featured Baroque mansions, early Christian and Russian churches, a renovated market (with unexpected entertainment from a world famous choir) plus the great cathedral of Alexander Nevsky.  Keeping its most ancient places alive, Roman ruins have been integrated into the modern city. 

Ruins from the ancient Roman city of Serdica – next to Baroque buildings and distant mosques - are preserved within the modern city.

The afternoon then included a series of presentations on Sofia’s history and growth by local architects and town planners.  Speakers included: Prof. Dr. Arch. Todor Krestev, UNESCO Expert; Arch. Dessi Dimitrova, President Delinear; Dr. Arch. Maria Davcheva, Editor Architectura Magazine.  The later dinner was accompanied by a renowned harpist.

Saturday  The group left Sofia early for a bus ride to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city and the oldest city in Europe still functioning.  The visit was in three parts: a tour of the old hill town, a stopover at Plovdiv’s Roman amphitheatre and a visit to ancient mosaics preserved in a modern museum, the Bishop’s Basilica.  

Lectures on the challenges of historic preservation within a modern city – along with a reception and operatic entertainment by State Opera Plovdiv Soloists – were sponsored by Nancy Schiller, who has supported the Basilica from its inception.  The first speaker, Prof. Dr. Elena Kantareva, a world renown scholar and restaurateur, has been credited with spearheading the preservation initiative. 

Other speakers included: Arch. Krassimir Todorov and Arch. Mariana Krachanova, designers of the Bishop’s Basilica museum; Arch. Ilko Nikolov, President Plovdiv SAB Chapter; Dr. Arch. Velina Pandjarova, UACEG Chair Theory and History of Architecture.

It is said that Plovdiv - originally named Philippopolis - rivalled Rome with its seven surrounding hills and its dramatic amphitheatre. Today, it is a UNESCO heritage city.

Old Plovdiv offered steep, cobbled streets and decorative wood houses, while in the modern city centre,
the new Bishop’s Basilica museum has been built to protect and display the early Christian structure and its extensive mosaics.

AIA CE traditionally holds a Gala Dinner on Saturday night.  Not only were the guests regaled with a violin and harp duet, the event organisers were celebrated and the winners of CE’s rejuvenated Design Awards were also announced.

Sunday  AIA Architects were given a hint on what to expect at the Rila Monastery – another UNESCO site, several miles from Sofia - through conference literature.  However, the attendees were unprepared for the full drama of the site once they walked through the entrance arch.  Their awe generated the best photography of the conference as shown in the slideshow below. 

After a lengthy stay at the monastery, the return trip to Sofia included a stop at the Natural History Museum, housed in a Soviet era government building.  The historical collections were fascinating, while the unusual building became another unexpected treat.

Through the arch Into a dramatic world of stripes, colour and mountain vistas.

The Soviet grandeur in the former Parliament defied categorisation, and almost overwhelmed the History Museum’s treasures.

Monday Extension Day  For those who wanted more – and there was a full busload who did – the extra Extension Day took a long trip north towards the Romanian border to Veliko Turnovo, the ancient capital of Bulgaria in the days of its pre-Ottoman prime.  It is still a major city with a dramatic setting – the city of a thousand windows and the one Tzarevetz fortress.

Multiple viewpoints generously inserted in the townscape by the local city planners expose dramatic vistas of Veliko Turnovo, built around sharp river bends.

A wine tasting lunch with the mayor and a series of lectures and discussions led by local architects ended the day and the conference.  Speakers included: Dipl. Ing. Nikolay Nikolov; Dr. Arch. Petar Nikolov; Arch. Stefan Conev, President of SAB chapter; Arch. Radomir Dankov.

The event organiser, Rada Doytcheva, FAIA,celebrated her birthday immediately after the conference. The birthday card by attendee, Dominique Tomasov AIA, from Barcelona, expressed the sentiments of all.

The Sofia Conference Programme is included HERE. Additional information - including Presenter Notes - on the Bulgaria event and also on past and future AIA CE conferences can be found on the AIA CE website HERE and HERE. These international conferences are a bargain and the Continuing Education Credits are significant.

The 2025 AIA CE April Conference in Cork, Ireland, will be co-hosted by AIA CE and AIA UK – a welcome joint effort.

Written by L D King, AIA

On behalf of AIA Continental Europe and AIA United Kingdom

FURTHER CREDITS:

Event Organisation Team: Rada Doytcheva FAIA, Conference Chair; Sasha Doytcheva, Architecture MA student RCA London; Jina Son, Humna Farid and Michael Ocejo, RADA Architects (www.rada-arch.com); Ray Spano, AIA, AIA CE France Director; Irene Reidy, AIA CE Administrator; Eli Hantova, SAB Union of Architects of Bulgaria (https://bularch.eu/); Desi Dimitrova, Delinear (https://delinear.bg/).

 Event Planner and Event Managers: Daniela Nakova, Tempora Travel (www.temporatravel.com); Manager Violeta Milusheva, Director, and Deni Peeva, Events Manager Intercontinental Hotel (www.intercontinental.com/sofia). 

Special credits: Svetoslav Stankov, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Chicago (https://www.mfa.bg/en/embassies/usagc3/1930).

Photographs: All photos by Conference attendees, and also by Ivo Oreshkov (https://oreshkov.bg/).

Music: Music played a special part of the programme and the references here are included at the special request of Rada Doytcheva to encourage further familiarization with Bulgarian culture:

Day One          Opening Reception

Fanny Koutzarova, Piano and Ventzislav Trifonov, Clarinet

See HERE.

Day Two          Ulpia Serdika Ruins

TE DEUM ADORAMUS Women’s Chamber Ensemble

See HERE /HERE/ HERE.

                           Dinner “Pri Orlite”  (With the Eagles)

Angela Madjarova, Harp

Day Three        Plovdiv at the Bishop’s Basilica

State Opera Plovdiv Soloists: Evgenia Ralcheva, soprano, Vera Girgonova. soprano, Victor Ibrishimov, Alper Unluturk / Liliana Barzeva (introductions)

See HERE.

                          At Gala Dinner at the Intercontinental

Denitza Dimitrova, Harp and Ivan Penchev, Violin

See HERE.

Beale & Co Update: Digesting the Grenfell Report – Impact on Product Manufacturers

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry published the highly anticipated Phase 2 Report into the fire at Grenfell Tower in September. At its centre lies the significant human tragedy, as the fire in June 2017 claimed 72 lives, and injuring and impacting many others.

AIA UK sponsor Beale & Co’s latest instalment of the “Digesting the Grenfell Report” series, looks at the Phase 2 of the inquiry, specifically regarding product manufacturers and the insulation products installed on the tower.

Click the button below for the article by Sheena Sood and Joanna Lewis:

AIA UK 29th Annual Student Charrette: Shaping the Future of London’s Public Spaces Through Creative Collaboration

On 26 October 2024, the Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) gallery in London was transformed into a hub of creativity and collaboration for the 29th AIA UK Student Charrette. With over 70 Part 1 architecture students from 14 universities in attendance, the event embodied the power of participatory design to reshape public spaces for inclusivity, sustainability, and community vitality. Special thanks to KPF for sponsoring this year’s event and graciously opening their gallery space for the day, helping bring this ambitious vision to life.

The morning began with a warm breakfast reception, setting an inviting tone for the students, mentors, and jurors to connect and exchange ideas. Paolo Mendoza, AIA UK’s Emerging Professionals Director, then introduced this year’s brief, centered on “Empowering the Next Generation in Participatory Urban Design,” a call for future architects to contribute to London’s vibrant cultural landscape. Students were tasked with reimagining the Strand Aldwych area—a site steeped in history and cultural significance—as a dynamic public space. Their designs needed to respond to the area’s heritage while prioritizing sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity. The brief challenged students to embrace participatory urban design, encouraging them to create installations that engage the community in co-creating spaces that reflect their needs.

Equipped with cameras and notebooks, the teams embarked on a site visit, accompanied by their mentors, to observe and document the site’s physical and social dynamics. After returning to the KPF gallery, students launched into a 4.5-hour design sprint. During this phase, Martyn Corner from Hopkins Architects offered expert guidance on model-making techniques, helping teams refine their physical representations. Working within the constraints of an analogue, CAD-free charrette, the students produced hand-drawn plans, sketches, and physical models that expressed their vision and creativity.

As the design time concluded, the teams presented their proposals to a distinguished jury: Taylor Rogers from Hopkins Architects, Karla Montauti from Benoy, Samantha Cooke from KPF, and Mark Breeze from the Architectural Association. The jury commended the teams for their creative approaches and attention to the nuances of the site. Each team’s proposal demonstrated a clear understanding of the Strand Aldwych’s unique cultural and historical character, with compelling visual representations and thoughtful models. The jurors highlighted the inventive ways the students integrated public engagement into their designs, noting a range of inspiring ideas to make the space more accessible, inclusive, and interactive.

AIA UK Emerging Professionals Director, Paolo Mendoza with the 2024 Student Charrette jurors: Taylor Rogers (Hopkins Architects), Samantha Cooke (KPF), Karla Montauti (Benoy), and Mark Breeze (Architectural Association).

After a thorough and spirited deliberation, the jury awarded first place to Group 8, a team of students from the University of Westminster, University of Reading, and University of Dundee, mentored by Gregory Fonseca. Their proposal stood out for its seamless blend of community engagement, sustainability, and sensitivity to the site’s context. The 1st runner-up was awarded to Group 4, consisting of students from the University of Bath and London Metropolitan University and mentored by Francis Hur. The 2nd runner-up went to Group 2, which included students from the University of Greenwich and the University of Hertfordshire, guided by mentors Elizabeth Dailey and Bea Sennewald.

The winning team mentored by Gregory Fonseca, AIA: Students from the University of Westminster, University of Reading, and University of Dundee: Fiona Gyamfi, Maame Frimpong, Clevy Bento, Robert Timberlake, Sarah Tolba, Hristislava Arabadzhieva, Benjamin Hanyecz.

The 1st runner-up team mentored by Francis Hur, AIA: Students from the University of Bath and London Metropolitan University: Emma McCook, Aaron Horwood, Caroline Rodrigues, Henri Toniolo, Fabiane Lonardelli.

The 2nd runner-up team mentored by Elizabeth Dailey, AIA and Bea Sennewald, AIA, RIBA: Students from the University of Greenwich and University of Hertfordshire: Ermiona Rousi, Zaid Shanawaz, Idris Mooradun Aisha Hussain, Iraj Syeda, Luke Buckman, Cydney-Ellen Thorold, Sushant Gurung.

AIA UK extends heartfelt gratitude to the mentors who played an instrumental role in the charrette’s success. Their expertise and mentorship were essential in guiding students through each phase of the design process. The mentors included Pierre Baillargeon from Mixity Studio, Elizabeth Dailey from Pilbrow & Partners, Bryan Oknyansky from Studio Moren, Francis Hur from Francis Hur Architecture, Eric Beard-Sackett from Whitman, Requardt & Associates, Lucia Piccinini from Lucia Piccinini Architect, Alex Miller from KPF, Gregory Fonseca from Mobius Design, and Bea Sennewald from Article 25.

The creativity, vision, and dedication displayed by these students are incredibly inspiring. Their proposals not only respect the historical essence of the Strand Aldwych but also bring innovative ideas for a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future.

This charrette leaves a lasting impression on all involved, paving the way for a momentous 30th AIA UK Student Charrette in 2025, which promises to inspire and engage the next generation of architectural talent.

Written by Paolo Mendoza, Associate AIA