Radio Four documentary to air about Architecture for Everyone

20 December 2009 - A BBC Radio Four documentary about the inaugural year of the Architecture for Everyone campaign launched by international architecture firm RMJM and the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, will be aired on Tuesday 22 December 2009. Presented by Adil Ray, ‘Towering Ambition’ follows the efforts of the two organisations as they tackle the architectural field's glaring imbalance "from the inside out".

The Radio Four programme follows the whole process, from the initial workshops and launch, all the way through to the conclusion and post-scheme analysis many months later. It follows the final six – Paula, 25, from Glasgow; Callum, 21, from Liverpool; Oni, 20, and Luke, 18, from London; and Yohanna and Nick, both 19, from Birmingham, all the way to Harvard's Graduate School of Design during the summer.

‘Towering Ambition’ will be aired on Tuesday 22 December 2009 at 11am on BBC Radio Four and will be on BBc iPlayer for 7 days.
 

Architecture for Everyone runners-up win summer school placement in Bristol

22 June 2009 - Six young people from inner city areas of Britain will work with leading urban design experts in Bristol this week to design new public spaces for the city.

Over the last three months, RMJM - in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust - has held design workshops in cities throughout the UK designed to tackle the lack of diversity in the profession.

Twelve of the most talented individuals identified through the workshops were then invited to take part in a competitive interview judged by an illustrious panel. Six finalists won the opportunity to study at the world renowned Harvard Graduate School of Design in Boston for six weeks, with the six runners up winning a place on the flagship Urban Design Summer School in Bristol sponsored by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
Youngsters from Britain’s inner cities win trip to study at Harvard

9 June 2009 - Six British youngsters are to join some of the world’s most elite students at Harvard University in the USA. The group, aged between 18 and 25, have won an all expenses paid trip to study architecture following a series of workshops searching for Britain’s architects of the future.

The winners include Callum Gilbert, a victim of knife crime from Liverpool who left school with no qualifications but has a renewed determination to turn his life around, and shop assistant Oni Hinton from London - a star pupil who wanted to become an architect from a very young age but lost her way following severe family problems and illness.

Callum and Oni, along with the four other winners from around the UK, came together to meet Doreen Lawrence OBE, before they set off on their trip to Harvard.

 
Architecture for Everyone attracts widespread support

 
4 May 2009 - Following a successful series of workshops around the UK, the Architecture for Everyone 2009 finalists have been confirmed and will attend the final stage of the competition in London this week.
 
The workshops - which were funded by Urban Living (West Midlands based Housing Pathfinder), the Scottish Government, Places Matter! (the North West regional architecture and bulit environment centre), and supported by Liverppol John Moores University, the Lighthouse in Glasgow and Rich Mix in London – attracted more than 100 young people, six of whom will win a placement at Harvard University this summer.
 
Peter Morrison, CEO of RMJM, the architectural company which initiated the campaign, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to the Architecture for Everyone campaign.” The campaign has attracted widespread endorsement from politicians and celebrities, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, TV presenter Jon Snow, Dame Kelly Holmes, designer Wayne Hemingway and David Lammy MP.

 
Nationwide search for aspiring architects kicks off in London

2 April 2009 - Architecture for Everyone, an initiative created in memory of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, will be kicking off in London as part of its search for Britain’s architects of the future. The most talented individuals will have the chance of winning an all expenses paid trip to study architecture at Harvard University, USA.

The campaign is looking for aspiring architects to take part in design workshops around the UK. Aimed at 18-25 year olds, particularly those from socially excluded or Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, the workshops will be led by architects from RMJM and other design professionals.

‘Architecture for Everyone’ is a collaboration between RMJM and the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. Backed by politicians and celebrities, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Dame Kelly Holmes, David Lammy MP, broadcaster Jon Snow and Apprentice winner Tim Campbell, the campaign aims to increase diversity in the architectural profession.