A number of colleagues and alumni have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for their achievements and service of people across the UK.
Along with the New Year’s Honours, the Queen’s Birthday Honours list is the most significant announcement of civilian and military gallantry awards. The recipients have improved the lives of others or are outstanding in what they do in some way.
Peter Barber, Reader in Architecture and founder of Peter Barber Architects, has become an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to architecture. Described as a “social housing leading light” by Architects’ Journal, Barber and his team have completed a large number of social housing sites, including a terrace on a previously thought to be ‘undevelopable’ site in Greenwich.
Barber’s award-winning design-orientated practice has been shortlisted for the International Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and recently won two RIBA London Awards for their Ordnance Road and Moray Mews developments. Barber also runs Westminster’s Design Studio 16, a platform for students to experiment and invent by exploring architectural and spatial concepts initiated through in-depth investigations of materials and making.
Sumita Singha, Part-Time Visiting Lecturer at the School of Architecture + Cities and Westminster alumna, also received an OBE for her services to architecture. Singha is an award-winning architect, academic and author with her own international design practice, Eco=logic. Her awards include the UIA:UNESCO International design award, Women In Business award at the House of Commons and Atkins Inspire award for Architecture. She was also included in an exhibition about 28 women who had made a difference to the life and culture of Britain.
Talking about receiving an OBE, Singha said: “I am truly delighted to receive an OBE amongst an august group of people from the field of architecture, as well as being amongst a growing diversity of people in the Honour’s List. I've had an association with the University of Westminster since 1995 and it is wonderful to share this news with everyone.”
Talking about the awards, Professor Harry Charrington, Head of the School of Architecture and Cities, said: “Many congratulations to our colleagues, Pete Barber and Sumita Singha, who have been awarded an OBE for services to architecture. If ever anyone earned such an award it is Peter – he has kept the lamp burning for progressive social housing through the darkest times, and continues to build exemplar after exemplar of highly considered and responsive schemes throughout London. These are not only inventive and inclusive housing, but reinforce the city and public realm. Despite being incredibly busy with his practice Peter Barber Architects, we are fortunate that as Reader in Architecture is an active researcher and runs Design Studio 12 with Ben Stringer – passing on his expertise directly to our students.
“The award to Sumita is equally merited. She is a pioneering campaigner and role model for increased diversity in the architectural profession as chair of Women in Architecture and a founder of RIBA Architects for Change group in 2000. As well as her collaborative practice, Ecologic, Sumita has also set up the charity Charusila which engages with transforms underused public spaces for community benefit. Sumita’s leadership is especially relevant to a diverse School like ours, and as well as her current role as a core Visiting Lecturer on our Part 3 course, she previously taught at Westminster from 1995-2001 as a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Architectural Engineering”.
John Sidebotham, who studied on the Transport Planning and Management MSc, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his outstanding service and contribution to health and wellbeing at his position at Network Rail during the COVID-19 pandemic.
John launched his daily wellbeing calls online in March 2020, which are themed around improving ways to connect with colleagues staying active, being curious, giving and taking notice – all contributing to overall wellbeing. More than a year later and John’s wellbeing calls, which he prepares every single working day, continue and are now open to everyone across Network Rail.
When speaking of his time at Westminster, John said: “It provided a great foundation to start my varied, interesting and rewarding career in the transport sector.”
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