Media Invitation: Serious Fun at the University of Surrey
Tuesday 6 May 2008
The University of Surrey and The Guildford Society cordially invite members of the media to the Annual Architecture Lecture to be held at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, 15 May at the School of Management Lecture Theatre. The lecture will be given by Professor Chris Wise, Co-Founder of Expedition Engineering, who will give a talk entitled ‘Serious Fun'.
Chris is one of a new generation of built environment designers. Through his personal leadership he has helped develop ground-breaking projects with some of the best international architects and environmental engineers. In 1998 he co-founded Expedition Engineering, which has become a deliberate and ongoing experiment into the role of the 21st century engineer. He became Royal Designer for Industry in 1998, and in 2007 'Master' of the Royal Designers (only the 6th engineer to receive that honour). Chris regularly appears on BBC, C4 and C5, Discovery and UK History. Technically advanced and innovative projects have included: the pioneering Commerzbank in Frankfurt, the Communication Tower for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Stirling Prize-winning American Air Museum at Duxford, the Millennium Bridge and Italy’s tallest building, the 220m Sanpaolo Bank HQ (with Renzo Piano).
An exhibition with supporting material from Expedition Engineering will be shown in the atrium of the School of Management on the evening of the lecture and will then transfer to the Lewis Elton Gallery until Thursday 05 June.
The lecture, exhibition and a guided tour around the University on Sunday, 18 May at 3.00 p.m. (meeting on the piazza), are part of the Festival, architecture08. This is a celebration of architecture across the South East run by the Royal Institute of British Architects South East with the Solent Centre for Architecture + Design on behalf of Arts Council England, South East.
Pat Grayburn, Arts Administrator, comments: "In recent years a number of eminent architects have designed buildings for the University and it is very exciting that we should be part of architecture08. Anyone who cannot make the walk on 18 May is welcome to call me on 01483 689167 for a personal guided tour of the architecture and the notable sculpture which adorns the campus."
For further information on the Architecture Festival events at the University of Surrey, please contact the Arts Office, University of Surrey, Guildford, Tel: 01483 689167 or E-mail: gallery@surrey.ac.uk
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
