Recipients | Honorary Fellows

Nominated by Adam Newell FCIAT, Regional Councillor, Greater London Region

I have had the privilege of working closely with Diane Dale over the past thirteen years during my regular involvement with the Institute. Her enthusiasm for the profession is both infectious and inspiring, and she has continually encouraged and empowered my own further engagement. Diane’s involvement with the Institute spans more than three decades, well before my own time, and has witnessed—and indeed driven—many changes. With over 30 years dedicated to promoting the profession as a key player within the built environment, Diane has helped reshape the built environment sector, placing CIAT firmly at its heart. She has made a significant and lasting contribution to the discipline of Architectural Technology through her leadership, dedication and vision during her long-standing tenure as Head of Practice and Technical. Throughout her time at the Institute, Diane has acted with honour, fairness, diligence and care. She has ensured that the Architectural Technology community is well represented and understood by a wide range of audiences. Her passion is felt by those around her, and she consistently stands up for what she believes in. Her values—both personal and professional—are deeply respected by all who work with her. She brings compassion, strength and wisdom to every encounter.

History with CIAT

Diane Dale joined BIAT on 20 February 1995 as Professional Services Officer & Accounts Assistant. From there, she progressed to the role of Practice Officer before moving into her final post as Head of Practice & Technical. Diane left CIAT on 30 April 2025, having served the Institute and its membership for the majority of her career. Over the course of 30 years, Diane has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the profession of Architectural Technology. She has a proven track record of advancing the industry, giving both the profession and the Institute a stronger foundation in an ever-evolving landscape. Despite not having a background in Architectural Technology, Diane approached the role with determination, investing significant time and energy to build a deep understanding of the technical, legal and regulatory frameworks that shape the built environment. Over the years, she has become a knowledgeable and respected advocate for both CIAT and its membership.

Contributions to the industry

During her time at the Institute, Diane consistently demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving the membership. Often working with limited resources, she nonetheless ensured members received high-quality guidance, practical tools and meaningful opportunities for engagement. She proactively fostered collaboration across the sector by engaging with government bodies, regulators and other professional organisations, significantly enhancing the Institute’s influence and reputation. Diane was instrumental in building the Practice Department, leading a small team to ensure CIAT has a voice, whether it is regulatory issues, collaboration with the British Standards Institution, involvement with government working groups or public education efforts—all of this is aimed at protecting clients, our members and ensuring high standards within the profession. Among her most notable achievements is the establishment and development of several taskforces and societies, which have provided valuable platforms for knowledge-sharing, professional development and community-building. These initiatives have empowered members to take ownership of their careers and have solidified CIAT’s reputation as a hub for innovation and leadership within the built environment.

The Practice Department as it stands today is a testament to Diane’s tireless efforts. Its growth, impact and ongoing relevance are the direct results of her thoughtful and transformative leadership. She has fundamentally shaped how Architectural Technology is communicated, supported and celebrated. Diane has also collaborated extensively with sister organisations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Building Research Establishment (BRE), influencing major projects, legislation and technical guidance. Her involvement in Government consultations—both within the UK and across Europe—has been exceptional, ensuring documents are accurate, workable and compliant. She regularly worked beyond her contracted hours and devoted personal time to the discipline, the profession and CIAT’s 9,500-strong membership. Even after stepping down from her post, she continues to support members and contribute to the Practice Department. Understanding the challenges faced by practitioners, Diane created a comprehensive library of resources and templates to simplify practice management. She also participated in consultation processes and working groups related to the Hackitt Review, contributing to crucial post-Grenfell reform work.

Contributions beyond her role

While Diane had a formal role at CIAT, she consistently went above and beyond her job description. She took it upon herself to elevate the visibility of Architectural Technology and amplify the voices of its practitioners. Diane has helped to place Architectural Technology firmly on the map and remains committed to its continued growth. Though now officially retired from CIAT, she continues to support members and the Practice Department. Granting her Honorary Fellowship would allow her to maintain active involvement in key taskforces, working groups and panels. Her expertise is still sought after, and this honour would ensure her continued contributions are formally recognised and enabled.

Diane has left a lasting, positive legacy. She expanded the scope of her role not for personal gain, but from a genuine desire to support the membership and promote the profession. Her dedication stemmed from a deep-rooted passion for seeing the Institute succeed. To Diane, this was never just a job—it was a career, hobby and lifestyle. The success of the Institute mattered to her just as much as it does to the members whose careers it supports. Diane made a career out of supporting the careers of others. She committed herself to the success of CIAT and its members, and the high regard in which she is held speaks volumes. Her legacy continues, and she remains an invaluable advisor to the team at Central Office and members across the Institute. Bestowing Honorary Fellowship on Diane would not only acknowledge the immense contributions she has already made—it would also allow the membership to continue benefiting from her passion, wisdom and experience. It would give her a formal route to rejoin committees, panels and taskforces where her insights are needed and valued.

Conclusion

Diane’s willingness to exceed the bounds of her role has been consistently evident throughout her time at CIAT. Though she did not come from a traditional Architectural Technology background, her influence on the profession is profound and enduring. She has shown what can be achieved through integrity, perseverance and a commitment to service. Her work has tangibly advanced the discipline by creating strong infrastructure, lasting networks and vital strategic partnerships that will continue to benefit members long into the future.

Nominated by Professor Sam Allwinkle PPBIAT FCIAT

Fergal is an exceptional designer and architectural technologist who has dedicated over three decades of his career to advancing Architectural Technology on a global scale. He is a principal at Gensler which is the largest architectural practice in the world and as a principal, Fergal leverages his diverse experiences in design strategy, workplace design and critical facilities projects to deliver innovative architectural technology solutions to their challenges.

His work has resonated at various scales, from local to international, touching the realms of professional practice, policy, academia, research and industry. From designing cutting-edge trading floors in Sydney to spearheading workplace strategies across mainland Europe.

From graduating in Architectural Technology, from the Cork Institute, over thirty years ago he has demonstrated throughout his career, a remarkable ability to envision and implement design solutions that not only meet clients’ needs but also elevate the entire field of Architectural Technology. Fergal’s innovative approaches have consistently pushed boundaries, resulting in positive change and improved practices within the industry.

Contributions and innovation to Architectural Technology practice

His contributions are numerous, groundbreaking and exceptional. His extensive portfolio showcases excellence in designing critical facilities, workplace strategies and fit-out projects for financial services firms. His accomplishments have not only transformed the built environment but have also set new standards for excellence within the profession.

His dedication in achieving excellence is evident in his professional profile and the projects he leads. Through his outstanding achievements in diverse spheres of Architectural Technology, Fergal has played a pivotal role in advancing the field and inspiring fellow professionals to pursue innovation and excellence in Architectural Technology.

Fergal goes beyond the traditional practice of design to deliver Architectural Technology and innovative solutions to the challenges his clients seek to overcome. Fergal has been involved in projects around the world, ranging from the design of trading floors in Sydney, to workplace strategy for over 3 million square-feet in mainland Europe to the design and construction of ground-up data centres in the UK, in addition to over 10 million square feet of corporate office projects in the UK. Fergal has worked on a mixture of projects throughout Europe from Microsoft’s new 350,000 square feet European headquarters in Dublin, a 1.2m square feet investment bank headquarters in Central London to multiple commercial office projects across mainland Europe. Fergal’s key belief is that by “Delivering meaningful solutions to clients with measurable added value is key to forming long lasting client relationships.”

An example of his world leading innovation in Architectural Technology was when as lead designer for the one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Shanghai Tower in China he used BIM not just as a design tool but for modelling the construction phase of the complex tower. This required the use of BIM and time lapse animation to analyse the construction and assess the use of cranes and their optimisation to reduce the number and the duration of the construction period. An innovated use of Architectural Technology in practice.

Contributions to Architectural Technology profession

Fergal’s association with Architectural Technology and CIAT goes beyond the scope of his professional projects. He has consistently contributed to the development and promotion of the profession and discipline through his active involvement with esteemed organisations such as the British Council for Offices, the RIBA Membership Committee and delivering the keynote address at the CIAT Design Futures Symposium in 2015. His participation in these forums demonstrates his commitment to fostering growth and progress within the industry.

At the Design Futures event, Fergal was the keynote speaker and delivered an incredibly impassioned presentation entitled Head in the Clouds, Feet Firmly on the Ground using the Shanghai Tower as an exemplar. Fergal’s zealous presentation conveyed the importance of Architectural Technology as an essential design function to ensure projects are delivered efficiently and effectively and perform to meet the use of occupants and users.

He also demonstrated an empathy with architectural technologists, even with the smallest detail such as mortar droppings in cavity walls effecting the performance of buildings. He had not forgotten his roots. His humility, sincerity and emotions were infectious resulting in an audience that were close to tears creating a moment and a lasting impression on architectural technologists who were there. I cannot recall any event in my life that had such passion and insight into Architectural Technology that was so memorable and unforgettable.

Recommendation

Considering Fergal’s positive impact, significant contributions and continued association with Architectural Technology, his visionary approach, innovative solutions and dedication to excellence I propose him without reservation. This honour will further enhance Fergal’s commitment to Architectural Technology and with his profile and networks will increase the national and international reputation and impact of CIAT as a global design profession.

Nominated by Gary Mees PPCIAT MCIAT

My first introduction to Alison and Class of Your Own, was when I had been asked to be one of the judges for the Jamie Oliver competition back in 2016. The competition was Design a Jamie Oliver Restaurant, a challenge in collaboration with Jamie Oliver Restaurants. The challenge was a secondary school competition that invited students to reimagine a local building as a ‘Jamie’s Italian’ restaurant. The winning design was created by John Haylett and Sam Boone, students from Clacton Coastal Academy. They reimagined an iconic Martello Tower on the shore of Clacton. The judging panel were brought together from all the major professional bodies, including CIAT, to judge the school’s submissions, an enlightening experience for mature professionals to see the outputs of the emerging talent coming forward into our industry, they are desperately needed.

Alison is the drive and energy of Class of Your Own, an international award-winning organisation that seeks to bring together schools and the built environment industry. Her support for CIAT and AT’s is second to none, she has worked with students and arranged workplaces to gauge their interest in studying Architectural Technology. She has been a judge on the AT Awards for the Student Award | Project, and has also explored opportunities with CIAT’s Regions and universities, offering Accredited Architectural Technology programmes, to expand AT education and promote the discipline of Architectural Technology.

Positive impact

Class of Your Own has created the Design Engineer Construct!® (DEC) programme, which is internationally recognised for its innovative approach to education in the built environment. This programme equips young people with essential skills and inspiration, paving the way for careers in architecture, construction, engineering, facilities management, surveying and beyond. By offering a comprehensive entry point, DEC not only nurtures future talent but also addresses the industry’s growing need for skilled professionals.

Significant contribution and excellence

Alison’s educational initiatives, particularly through the Design Engineer Construct!® programme, have been instrumental in promoting the built environment profession. Her collaboration with CIAT on various projects has helped raise awareness and standards not only in the UK but also on an international scale. This partnership highlights the importance of integrating education with industry needs, ensuring that future professionals are well prepared for global challenges.

Significant and continued association

Alison’s impressive career and achievements speak volumes about her dedication to the built environment sector and education. Her passion for fostering home-grown talent through the Design Engineer Construct!® programme has had a profound global impact, with the programme now being implemented worldwide. This success can be attributed not only to Alison’s unwavering vision but also to the hard work of her dedicated team and the collaborative support of the COYO community.

Her outstanding contributions to education and the industry have been recognised with numerous prestigious honours. These include an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Heriot-Watt University, election as an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, and several awards such as the President’s Award and the Richard Carter Prize. In addition, Alison’s leadership was acknowledged through her nomination to the Board of the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, her representation of youth and learning on the Construction Industry Training Board Council, and her appointment as an MBE for services to education in H.M. The Queen’s 2018 New Year Honours.

Alison’s work exemplifies the powerful intersection of education, innovation and industry collaboration, driving forward the future of construction and the development of talent for generations to come.

As an Honorary Fellow of CIAT, her continued advocacy for the discipline, profession, and the Institute itself will be invaluable. Her support is expected to significantly contribute to growing interest and awareness of Architectural Technology in the UK and internationally, driving progress and innovation within the discipline.