New RIBA President to visit Coventry University

Coventry University is pleased to welcome the incoming RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) President Stephen Hodder for a prestigious event next week - Tuesday 2nd October - from 5.30pm.

This joint RIBA West Midlands and Coventry University event will take place at The Hub, a new purpose-built student focused building that sits at the heart of the Coventry University campus.

Designed by London-based architects Hawkins\Brown, the Hub won an RIBA ArchitectureWM 2012 Award in recognition of its architectural excellence in June. It offers students a mix of informal studying, meeting up spaces and support services during the day, as well as a vibrant venue in the evening.

Stephen Hodder MBE will be the 75th RIBA President (from 2013 to 2015) and is director of Hodder + Partners, an award-winning architecture practice based in Manchester. He will be talking to fellow RIBA members at their regional AGM meeting, before addressing a wider audience of architects, students and academics.

Professor Mark Gaterell, who leads Coventry University’s Low Impact Buildings Grand Challenge Initiative – an applied research programme looking at sustainable construction – will also be speaking on the night. His talk will consider the significant challenges ahead for architects and the need for them to embrace the complexity associated with delivering low carbon designs in order to ensure the future of our built environment is not left entirely in the hands of engineers.

Coventry University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Madeleine Atkins said:

“We are very pleased to welcome the RIBA and their incoming President to Coventry University. The Hub has become an iconic and popular feature of our campus since its opening last year, and we are delighted that architects from across region will be viewing it. This is an excellent opportunity for students and professionals to see the impact universities can have on improving our built environment.”

Stephen Hodder, RIBA President Elect, said:

“Coventry University's Hub building by Hawkins\Brown Architects is a fantastic addition to the city. It is a deserving winner of an RIBA Award and provides a great facility for the university, its staff and its students. I look forward to welcoming fellow members, colleagues and students to The Hub on 2 October.”

The £32m ‘Hub’ is part of a £150m redevelopment programme at the University’s city centre campus, the second stage of which was the opening of the new state of the art home for the Faculty of Engineering and Computing this month.