December 19 2008

The highest honour that the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) can bestow, an Honourary Fellowship, has been awarded to Sunand Prasad, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). 

Cementing close ties between the twin organisations and brushing aside sibling rivalry Neil Baxter, Secretary & Treasurer of RIAS, provided Prasad’s Fellowhip citation:

“Sunand Prasad was born in North India 1950.  In 1962 his family came to UK and settled in North London.  Educated at Cambridge University, he spent eight years as Architect Associate with Edward Cullinan Architects, combining this with study for a PhD in North Indian urbanism and domestic architecture.

With Greg Penoyre Sunand founded Penoyre and Prasad Architects in 1988. The Practice has undertaken numerous high profile and award-winning health, education and public buildings including Moorfields Eye Hospital, the Rich Mix Centre, Wolverhampton Civic Halls, Woodacre Farm Learning Difficulties Unit and the University of Portsmouth Frewen Library.

Sunand has been Commissioner on CABE since its inception in 1999.  He launched the CABE Enabling Programme and has headed up a series of research exercises and design reviews as well as being lead Commissioner for CABE’s own strategy.

Sunand’s early RIBA experience was on the Awards Group. On the Practice Committee he led the Institute’s response to the Egan Report and helped develop the RIBA Design Quality Indicator.  He was elected to RIBA Council in 2004 and has been Councillor, Board Member and Vice Principal for Policy and Strategy prior to election as RIBA President in 2007.

Sunand has been instrumental in shaping the Institute’s programme towards its 175th anniversary in 2009. His inaugural address, delivered in November 2007, reviewed the Institute’s history against changing social and economic patterns in UK society.  He also set out an agenda for political influence, collaboration and the ownership and engagement of members.  In the year since he assumed the Presidential mantle Sunand Prasad has re-invigorated the RIBA and his own unstinting efforts and considerable media nous has given UK architects and architecture a considerably enhanced profile – to the continuing benefit of us all.”


Ramesh Chandar, Consul General of India, presents Sunand Prasad, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA,) with an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

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