Introduction

celebrated promotions for Dr Jemma Browne, Dr Jieling Xiao, Dr Panch Suntharalingam, and most notably Professor Hannah Vowles.

We had the tragic news that former colleague Richard Snell passed away after a short illness. Richard was known to many of us for this work on the Furniture Design course and then as Head of the Department of Fashion, Textiles and Three Dimensional Design at BIAD. Richard will be sadly missed. We were also saddened by the news that Dr Albert Hong, a graduate of the School of Architecture who generously donated $1million to set up the Oscar Naddermier Professor of Architecture post sadly passed away in Singapore.

On a brighter note, I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the School this year including the core teaching team, our administrative team, visiting tutors, specialist tutors, volunteer critics, workshop staff, colleagues in ADM and across the University, and practices who have worked with us and supported student work placements.

Finally, after 23 years at BCU I am leaving and moving on to a new challenge. I feel incredibly proud to have led this School for over 9 years, a School I studied at, and to have helped transform it to where it is today with a clear identity, a fantastic sense of community, a talented and energetic staff team, a School that attracts, nurtures, and produces a diverse body of talented students, and a reputation for being a School that the city of Birmingham and its practices can be proud of. I’d like to express my thanks to my loyal staff team past and present, visiting tutors, external examiners, practices, businesses and collaborators, and the hundreds and hundreds of students past and present who’ve been part of this amazing journey. Thank you all, it’s been a blast!

I hope you enjoy this review of this unusual year and the School looks forward to celebrating with you in person in our indomitable fashion next year.

Professor Kevin W Singh Head of Birmingham School of Architecture and Design (2011-2020)