On 13 May 2022 the architectural community joined us in mourning the loss of our dear friend and colleague Iain Wylie. Now, two years on from Iain’s sudden passing, his friends, family and colleagues have founded the Iain Wylie Travel Award for final-year students from ECA’s Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA).

Iain’s journey in architecture began at ECA (Edinburgh College of Art), where he graduated in 1987. Throughout his career, Iain left his mark as a respected architect, business leader, and advocate for design quality. He garnered many accolades for his innovative designs and leadership, including becoming a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) in 2014. His legacy of excellence and commitment to his profession continues to inspire, prompting the establishment of the Iain Wylie Travel Award in his memory.

In recognition of his impact on the profession, the Iain Wylie Travel Award has been created as a joint effort by his family, friends, and colleagues, with funding from Austin-Smith:Lord. This annual award aims to commemorate Iain’s dedication to both people and his profession by giving a life-changing opportunity to a student from ECA’s Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA).

The Iain Wylie Travel Award looks to empower undergraduate students in their final year of study to broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of architecture or landscape architecture through travel. It is designed to challenge recipients to explore new perspectives, cultures, and approaches to practice, echoing Iain’s commitment to professional and personal development.

Awarded by an academic panel in ESALA, the Travel Award will recognise students who have displayed academic excellence, with a focus on those who may be experiencing additional barriers to their studies. The first recipient of the award will be announced in May 2024 and will be a student from Architecture, alternating between Architecture and Landscape Architecture students each year.

The initiative honours Iain’s legacy and embodies his values of inclusivity, excellence, and continuous learning. By allowing students to experience diverse architectural contexts firsthand, the Iain Wylie Travel Award aims to foster the next generation of architects who, like Iain, will leave a lasting impact on the built environment. This award not only offers a unique learning opportunity but also serves as a steppingstone in the recipient’s career, opening doors to new professional connections and opportunities.

In establishing this award, Iain’s family, friends, and colleagues ensure that his memory is a source of inspiration and opportunity. It is a testament to his remarkable legacy and influence on Scotland’s architectural community and beyond.

“Austin-Smith:Lord are honoured to be able to establish The Iain Wylie Travel Award in conjunction with ESALA (Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture) and with the agreement of Iain’s family. We’d also like to acknowledge and thank John McGee for his guidance and encouragement in setting up an educational scholarship award in Iain’s memory.

Iain was a very talented architect and founding member of our Glasgow studio in the late 1990s. He became Partner in 2003 and was Chair of Austin-Smith:Lord from 2014 until 2020 prior to his untimely death in 2022, aged 58.

Iain grew up in West Lothian and studied Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. His design education benefitted greatly from the opportunity to travel and study great buildings and places in person. He developed a lifelong love and appreciation of architecture and travel and it is therefore fitting that this Travel Award is established in Iain’s memory.

Austin-Smith:Lord are committed to widening participation in the design professions by providing support and opportunity to students and young practitioners to develop their design skills and knowledge. We are proud to be able to support eligible students of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at ESALA to travel and broaden their understanding of design through travel, fieldwork and in-situ research.

We look forward to hearing about the positive learning experiences created through this Award and we’re certain that Iain would have been proud to be associated with this initiative.” Graham Ross, CEO, Austin-Smith:Lord.

Link to ECA news article: https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/news/introducing-iain-wylie-travel-award-lasting-legacy

Travel awards and student experience gifts are vital for students of ECA. If you would like to discuss making a gift to ECA please contact Rachel Bruce, Philanthropy Manager, to hear more about how you can support at rachel.bruce@ed.ac.uk.