As we enter 2025, I am excited that the University Design Forum will be marking our 30-year anniversary in various ways. Starting out as the Higher Education Design Quality Forum, we were formed in 1995 by Frank Duffy, the then RIBA President, with the original aim of fostering discussions between HE clients and the architectural profession. Our first chair was the late Richard Feilden, and I was delighted to note in the New Year Honours that Peter Clegg, the co-founder of his practice (FCBS), was recognised with an OBE. Our warmest congratulations go to Peter! 

We have a varied and engaging programme of events and research over the coming year. Wherever possible, we will be incorporating the theme of 30-years into our work as a way of considering what has changed and what needs to change. We will draw comparisons with reference to specific locations and buildings at our site visits and Annual Conference which this year will be held in London. One of the things that characterises the Forum is the way in which the disciplines related to the university environment collaborate. 

If you are finding out about us for the first time and would like to know more then do please use the information shown on this website to get involved. The University Design Forum is a friendly and collegiate organisation and if you’re not already a member then I would encourage you to join. 

Best wishes for the year ahead and I look forward to seeing you at one of our events. 

Trevor Wills

Chair, University Design Forum