26 November 2008
CITATION
Award of a Doctor of the University honoris causa
Mr John Simpson
Chancellor,
Mr John Simpson was an influential architect who contributed positively to the St Lucia campus of The University of Queensland. He acted as the Project Architect for the Chemical Engineering Building as well as Architect for the Hawken Engineering Building and the Colin Clark Building on campus.
Mr Simpson also attended meetings of the University’s Building and Grounds Committee to discuss aspects of projects under consideration.
He has contributed to the University’s teaching excellence as an Adjunct Professor of Architecture, by mentoring many students as well as inaugurating the John Simpson Prize in Architecture in 1985.
After working as an architect then founding partner with John Andrews Architect in Toronto from 1963 until 1972, Mr Simpson became founding director of John Andrews International until 1983, responsible for the design and implementation of projects in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Washington DC and Saudi Arabia.
While at John Andrews Architects, he contributed to projects including Gund Hall at Harvard University, opened in 1972, and the Scarborough College at the University of Toronto, Canada, both recognised as exceptional works of architecture. He received an American Institute of Architects Honour Award for Gund Hall in 1973. From 1983 until 1995, he practised as an architect with John Simpson Associates Pty Limited in Brisbane with clients including the Endeavour Foundation, Brisbane City Council, Queensland Rail and UQ.
As well as UQ, Mr Simpson has driven the look of Brisbane through roles including as Master Architect for the South Bank Corporation in 1996. Among his many awards was a Regional Award for his work on South Bank from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Queensland Chapter) in 2000.
Chancellor, in recognition of his distinguished career and his contribution to The University of Queensland, I present to you Mr John Simpson, Certificate in Architecture from Glasgow School of Architecture and Masters in Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, for the award of a Doctor of the University honoris causa bestowed by the Senate of The University of Queensland.