The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technology celebrated its 60th anniversary with a celebratory Gala, championing 60 years of excellence and prestige at the Round Room at Mansion House in Dublin, Ireland, after ushering in their new President, Usman Yaqub, at their AGM earlier that day.
President Usman Yaqub, inaugurated as the 32nd President of the Institute, is Director at Studio Yaqub, a part time member of staff at University of the West of England, and CIAT’s Regional Chair for Wessex, in which he established the highly successful ‘CPD in 43’ initiative.
Usman received the Chain of Office at the close of the AGM and will hold office for the next two years. In his speech, Usman spoke of his journey overcoming his feelings of not belonging, and vowed in his presidency to implement initiatives to increase retention and engagement and enhance the value of the Institute’s membership.
CIAT’s historic 60th Anniversary Celebratory Gala at the famous Round Room at Mansion House saw over 240 guests dressed to impress, and enjoy a sit-down three-course dinner, live band and dance floor.
On his inauguration and the anniversary celebrations, President Usman Yaqub said: “Being President is a tremendous honour – the pinnacle of our profession – and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. That I was inaugurated in our 60th year is a further honour and a joyful thing. We have spent six decades representing and serving the very best of the profession and discipline, going from 43 people in a room to a Chartered body almost 10,000 strong, with members across the globe. Who knows where we could be in another six decades!”
CIAT was founded on 12 February 1965 at the RIBA Headquarters in London as the Society of Architectural and Associated Technicians, with the aim of representing all technicians within construction and championing multi-disciplinary training and understanding. In its first year, 1,799 technicians joined the society. In 2005, the Institute – then named the British Institute of Architectural Technologists – was granted its Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth II and became the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT). The protected descriptor ‘Chartered Architectural Technologist’ was introduced, cementing Chartered Members as one of the lead professions at the forefront of the built environment.
