Posted on 24 Aug 2008

Ian Wall, former CEO of The EDI Group, has been awarded the 2008 Lighthouse Achievement Award.
The award is made each year by Scotland’s national Architecture and Design Centre to an individual or organisation for their contribution to the nation’s built environment.

“Ian Wall was an inspired client,” says Morag Bain, Director of ACCESS to Architecture and Chair of the Judging panel. “Throughout his years with City of Edinburgh Council and EDI he showed a great determination to ensure quality developments and commitment to raising the profile of good architecture. We felt that as he moved on from EDI it was an appropriate time to recognise the valuable contribution he has made to Scotland’s architectural landscape through his bold commissioning policy.”

Acting Chief Executive of EDI, John Mark Di Ciacca, said: “Ian’s contribution to the built environment is well known among those who have worked with him. The award is well deserved and reflects the huge personal commitment and energy he demonstrated during his years with EDI, the organisation that he helped to establish 20 years ago. Most recently Ian’s commitment to exploring shared surfaces has permitted EDI to develop an entirely new approach to modelling successful streets and public realm.”

While working for The EDI Group, Ian Wall helped to deliver a number of major developments in Edinburgh including Edinburgh Park, described by the British Council of Offices as “one of the best business parks in Europe”. He created and established the 15-year programme to reinvent Craigmillar, one of Scotland’s most deprived areas.

“Making good buildings is not difficult if the client has the commitment and determination to do so and has a design team similarly committed,” says Ian Wall. “I receive this award, for which I am truly grateful, only because I have had the privilege of working with a great team at EDI alongside great architects, landscape architects and professional teams.”

The presentation ceremony took place on Friday 22 August, followed by a keynote lecture by Ian Wall entitled Working spaces: Living spaces. An exhibition of winning and shortlisted projects is on show at The Lighthouse until 3 September 2008.

ENDS

For further information about The EDI Group Limited and interviews contact Giselle Dye or Esther Black, Pagoda PR, 0131 556 0770 giselle.dye@pagodapr.com or esther.black@pagodapr.com
For information on the awards and The Lighthouse please contact Lesley Booth 0779 941 4474 lesley@newcenturypr.com

Notes for Editors
1. The Lighthouse Achievement Award was established in 2004 as part of ACCESS to Architecture (formerly the National Programme for Architecture) a Scottish Government backed initiative aligned with Scotland’s Policy on Architecture. Previous winners of the £5,000 award, which is used to develop of project of personal interest to the awardee, include GLAS, Murray Grigor and Dick Cannon
2. The judging panel comprised: Morag Bain – Project director - ACCESS to Architecture (Chair); Nick Barley Director, The Lighthouse; Dick Cannon - Elder & Cannon; Alan Pert – NORD and Sebastian Tombs – CEO, A+DS.