News
See below for a brief selection of news items relating to the staff, projects and clients of the practice.
GLOBAL WARMING
7 Years and Counting!
Well we have less than 7 years to continue to slow down global warming and we as an architecture business have been, and continue to take this very seriously.
With existing buildings being one of the main contributors to global warming, we continue to make a vast impact by changing how we practice architecture. If we didn't do this, then all too soon the effects will be irreversible.
Having extensive experience in re-purposing old buildings we modify and reconstruct them and reduce the need to use energy and carbon sensitive materials like concrete, steel, and aluminium. This in turn helps to meet higher-performance standards, meaning reduced near and mid-term carbon emissions. We will always look at carbon-smart materials whenever possible.
Most importantly, we look to advise our clients to pursue Renewable Energy.
WE alone cannot reverse climate change; however we can guide our clients and design teams on climate-adaptive strategies.
August 2023
NEW STAFF MEMBER
We would like to congratulate and warmly welcome onboard Karen Smith as our new Office Manager! Karen has many years Office Management experience and will be bringing with her, her many skills to assist our team moving forward.
We are confident that we will all work well together in the weeks and months to come and look forward to seeing how we can all support each other.
June 2023
CONSERVATION
A huge congratulations to our Senior Partner, Stephen Kerr, on achieving RIAS Accreditation in Conservation Architecture. This qualification allows the practice to continue to support our CARS and Historic Environment Scotland grant-funded projects.
April 2023
WENDY CORRIGAN
Wendy Corrigan, nee Forbes, CF BSc (Arch) BArch (Hons) MSc Bldg Con (Distinction) RIBA RIAS IMaPS, Conservation Partner at Wylie Shanks Architects passed away on 29 September 2022, aged 51.
Wendy initially graduated at the University of Dundee before completing her Masters in Building Conservation at Heriot Watt University. A year in Australia on a Rotary Fellowship involved spending time in the bush recording old timber churches in a state of collapse. This laid the foundation for her passion for conservation and historic buildings that eventually led to RIAS Advanced Accreditation in Conservation. Back home she spent time at Angus Council, EHP Hitchin and The Parr Partnership before eventually settling into partnership at Wylie Shanks Architects where she had a highly prolific career taking the lead on an enormous range of projects. Thanks to her skills and attention to detail she secured awards for housing projects as well as a commendation under the HES Conservation and Climate Change category for the Ingram Centre in Kilmarnock, which was also a Regional Finalist in the Civic Trust Conservation Awards. She was also a great friend and mentor to her Wylie Shanks Architects ‘family’.
Notwithstanding her successful professional career, Wendy led an incredibly busy private life. She set up her own book club as well as doing regular walking sessions, guitar lessons, jewellery making, attending gigs, playing darts and running a marathon. High on her list were holidays, or weekends away, with family, friends and neighbours, all of whom will recognise her amazing ability to organise such events and happily take on board the numerous tasks. There is no doubt that her success lay in her love for a ‘to do’ list. Her wide social network was a testament to the warmth of her personality and playful humour that everyone who knew her will immediately recognise and smile at the memory.
In recent years she somehow found time to sit on the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland cases panel (AHSS) reviewing and commenting on Planning submissions. In addition, in 2019, as a consequence of her highly respected career, she was also invited to put her name forward for election (ultimately successfully) as a Trustee and sat on the Board for The National Trust for Scotland.
The daughter of Bill & Margaret, Wendy met her future husband Tony in 1996 whilst living in Dundee. They latterly moved to Uddingston, and then Bothwell, where together they raised their son Euan.
November 2022
NEW PROJECTS
The final phase of the upgrade to Kilmarnock Bus Station is on the drawing board. Wylie Shanks Architects have been working with East Ayrshire Council to modernise the Station, which will include a new canopy and street furniture. Earlier phases saw the installation of a Changing Places facility and a new ticket office.
July 2022
COMPLETED PROJECTS
2022 has been a very busy year so far for Wylie Shanks Architects, with a number of exciting varied projects underway and successful completions. Of interest are the restoration of the Johnnie Walker Memorial in Kilmarnock, external fabric repairs to an office in Paisley Conservation Area under the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, and the Crafty housing development for Orkney Housing Association.
July 2022
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NEW STAFF MEMBER
We welcome onboard Caiti Corrigan as our new Office Manager! Caiti will be undertaking many important tasks within our team including communications, bid applications and general administrative duties, as well as organising our CPD.
March 2022
BEST WISHES
Congratulations to Annette Welsh who retired from our office on the 21st January after 46 years with Wylie Shanks Architects. We wish her all the very best for a long and happy retirement.
January 2022
NEW STAFF MEMBER
We are delighted to welcome Eilish Henderson to our team. Eilish has recently completed her Masters degree at Strathclyde University, specialising in Urban Design and Future Cities, and also has previous building conservation experience, further strengthening our service here at Wylie Shanks Architects.
November 2021
MAUCHLINE
CARS
We are delighted to have been appointed by East Ayrshire Council to assist with the Mauchline CARS scheme. This is an exciting opportunity for the community and will undoubtedly bring improvements to the Conservation Area. #EastAyrshire
November 2020
NEWLY QUALIFIED
Many congratulations to Jamie Wyllie of our office who recently passed his Part 3 professional examination.
He is now a fully qualified Chartered Architect and further strengthens our team at Wylie Shanks Architects.
March 2020
NATIONAL TRUST for SCOTLAND
Many congratulations to our conservation partner, Wendy Corrigan, who has been elected to the Board of Trustees for the National Trust for Scotland.
The ballot results were announced at the Trust’s 2019 Annual General Meeting, which was held in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 21 September.
To ensure a broad and high level of skills on the Board of Trustees, all applicants for election have been assessed by the Trust’s Nominations Committee. Only those whom the Committee concluded have the necessary skills and experience are put forward for election.
Wendy will serve on the Board for a fixed term and we have absolutely no doubt that she will be a siginficant asset to the Board of Trustees.
September 2019
NEW APPOINTMENT
We are delighted that that Alex Kardakou has joined us at Wylie Shanks Architects, further strengthening and expanding our team.
Alex studied at the University of Strathclyde and has an MA in Advanced Architectural Design.
August 2019
RIAS AWARDS
We had a lovely night at the RIAS Awards 2019, and are delighted that our John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock project (Ingram Centre) received a commendation under the HES Conservation and Climate Change category.
The project was also a 2019 Civic Trust AABC Conservation Awards Regional Finalist.
All credit due to the East Ayrshire Council team for making this project happen!
May 2019
JACKI KERR
Wylie Shanks Architects are pleased to announce the appointment of Jacki Kerr as an Associate.
Jacki joined the practice in September 2015 as a senior architect having previously worked in a number of public and private architectural organisations since qualifying in 1993.
Jacki's significant breadth of experience has enabled her to take the lead on a number of major projects across a wide variety of our client sectors, including healthcare, public authority, industrial, residential, commercial offices and education - from early years to post graduate facilities - as well as assisting on conservation projects.
Jacki's appointment will further strengthen the existing skills and experience of our senior management team.
April 2019
CDM REGS
The Partners at Wylie Shanks Architects, Stephen and Wendy, have successfully completed their three stage assessment and are now Incorporated Members of the Association for Project Safety, to enhance WSA's Principal Designer service.
The practice has been providing health & safety advice to clients since the initial inception of the CDM regulations on 31 March 1995.
March 2019
RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR 2018
We are delighted that our Sands Park housing in Deerness which we designed for Orkney Housing Association Ltd (OHAL) was awarded 'Rural Development of the Year 2018' at the Rural and Islands Housing Association Forum Conference.
This is the second award that has been received for projects that we have carried out for OHAL.
https://twitter.com/OrkneyHousing/status/1048188687643811841
October 2018
SMALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR 2017
Our first project for Orkney Housing Association, which was carried out over 2 phases is located in the beautiul village of Stenness, near the standing stones, with the Ring of Brodgar just next door.
The project won 'Small Affordable Housing Development of the Year' at the 2017 Scottish Home Awards.
December 2017
