People
Global multi-tasking
Flexibility and collaboration help architects produce successful projects, says Graham Goymour, principal in urban design for the design + planning business at AECOM
Goymour’s typical working week demands handling a variety of project types, scales, and locations. At any one time he might be working on three or four schemes, ranging in scale from a single building to a masterplan for regenerating a city centre. Among his key skills is being able
to switch between understanding how projects work at micro and macro levels, local and global perspectives, and moving seamlessly between detailed design and business-level oversight. ‘Working locally and globally
is one of the great strengths of a company like AECOM,’ he explains. ‘We’re currently working as far afield as Brazil, Istanbul, and China, as well as in the UK. In every case we need to understand and respond to the local context and work with local teams, but we also bring to bear our extensive global experience and expertise – this ability is helping us on projects in many countries.’ Canada-born Goymour, 49, has
worked at AECOM for three years, and continues to find freshness in the evolving nature of his work. As well as contributing to the finer points of design, he helps expand the business by liaising with clients and seeking opportunities for his studio to collaborate with colleagues in many other parts of the AECOM business – from transportation and water experts to project managers, economists and building engineers. Trained as an architect in Canada
before coming to the UK, Goymour is familiar with the benefits of having an international perspective. ‘I spend a lot of my time working at our London office among our team,’ he says. ‘But I also spend time visiting sites, meeting with clients – and, increasingly, at other AECOM offices overseas.’ ‘Recently I’ve spent time
70 CIBSE Journal February 2011 Being able to travel
widely and work alongside others in any number of places really makes work interesting
participating in projects in China and Singapore. Being able to travel widely and work alongside others in any number of places really makes work interesting. You meet new people and experience innovative approaches to design, and not just inside our firm – we have great success collaborating with designers outside AECOM as well.’ This cross-pollination of ideas
and disciplines ensures Goymour and his studio are exposed to as many design perspectives as possible. He cites two recent projects that demonstrate the benefits of collaboration with experts in transportation, building engineering and sustainability – both of them competitions: the Youth Olympics City in Nanjing, China, and Greenwich Millennium Village in the UK. Looking to the future, he hopes to develop this collaborative spirit in new projects.
The chief executive of the Heating and Ventilation Contractors’ Association (HVCA) Robert Higgs has announced he will retire from the association in July after 38 years’ service. Higgs has been a member of the HVCA executive staff since 1973, and was appointed its chief executive in July 1989. In recent years he has helped to shape UK policy on sustainability and climate change.
Martin Lewis has been appointed as associate director within building services company, GDM Partnership. Lewis has been with GDM for 15 years and his promotion follows five years as an associate. His key role will be fulfilling the duties of senior electrical designer and he will report to the board on all electrical matters.
The Energy Institute (EI) has announced the election of its first chartered energy manager, Owen Everall CEng MEI, who is the site
Movers & Shakers
engineering and facilities manager for Syngenta. The EI launched this new grade of registration earlier in the year to support and recognise professional practitioners who are responsible for managing energy to reduce use, increase efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Val Evans, an architect at engineering consultant, Atkins, has been chosen as a ‘Modern Muse’ by the women’s business community, everywoman. The Modern Muse campaign features 100 inspirational women in an initiative designed to inspire and engage the next generation of female UK business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Mott MacDonald has appointed Alan Tulla as an architectural lighting designer. Tulla is currently the president of the Society of Light and Lighting. He has worked in the lighting industry for 30 years, focusing specifically on lighting design.
John Armitt has been reappointed as the chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The body plays a key role in ensuring that the UK develops leading edge technology. Armitt will now remain as chairman of the EPSRC until 31 March 2012.
After nearly 50 years in the industry and 20 years with the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA), electrotechnical sector figure Dave Dossett has retired. His roles have included director of the Electrical Installation Equipment Manufacturers Association (EIEMA), director general and chief executive of BEAMA, and director of the installation sector.
www.cibsejournal.com
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