I am a Director within the practice of Fitzgerald Kavanagh + Partners, Architects in Dublin.

I am originally from Peebles in Scotland where I left school in 1983 and started my career as an Architectural Technician with the practice of Duncan Cameron & Associates in Galashiels. I studied for four  years on a day-release basis at the Borders College of Further Education where I gained the qualifications of the SCOTEC ONC in Building and the SCOTVEC HNC in Architectural Technology. I believe that this method of combining education while working helped me gain considerable hands-on experience at a very early stage in my day-to-day training on my chosen career path.

I also joined CIAT as a student and upgraded my membership to Associate membership becoming a Chartered Member in 1992.

In 1990, I relocated to Ireland and joined Fitzgerald Reddy & Associates, leading to a position within a few years as a Senior Architectural Technician. I also studied to achieve City & Guilds Certificates in CAD and 3-D Design. I was appointed an Associate of the practice Fitzgerald Kavanagh & Associates in 1997, and then subsequently became a Director of Fitzgerald Kavanagh & Partners in 2001.

I consider that integration of the architectural design with the construction technology of any project is fundamental to its success. My own aim is primarily to continue to improve and develop innovative ideas and technological advances while maintaining the original conceived aesthetic architectural appearance and economic budget.

My project experience has developed extensively from my early days in Scotland where I worked on general needs/sheltered/private housing and industrial buildings through to a varied cross-section of building types in Ireland in various sectors including the following –

• Office Headquarters for the European Foundation
• 60-bed unit for the Orthopaedic Hospital
• Builders merchants showrooms and warehouses
• Petrol filling stations for Statoil Ireland Ltd
• Design and build projects for parish centres and churches
• Private houses – new and refurbishment
• Commercial and residential developments
• Restaurants and retail shops
• Post graduate student residences for University College Dublin
• Golden Tulip Hotel in Dublin.