Internationally Regarded Architect to Take up University Chair

15th February, 2006

An internationally regarded architect has been appointed to a newly created Chair of Architectural Design at the University of Newcastle. The Chair, which has been partly funded by acclaimed Newcastle architectural firm, Suters Architects, will be taken up by Professor Steffen Lehmann.

Professor Lehmann will join the University's Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment which is renowned for its innovative teaching approach and as an international pioneer and leader in the adoption and delivery of problem based learning.

In a joint statement today, the Vice Chairman of Suters Architects, Mr Brian Suters and the University's Head of the School of Architecture and Built Environment (within the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment), Professor Michael Ostwald, said they were delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Lehmann, an outstanding architect of international repute.

Mr Suters and Professor Ostwald said Professor Lehmann's appointment to the new Chair represents the strong and ongoing commitment of the University and Suters Architects to the quality of urban and architectural design in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

Professor Ostwald said the establishment of the Chair had been made possible by the long-standing and fruitful relationship between Suters Architects and the University of Newcastle.

"Suters Architects have sponsored student awards for many years and at least half of their staff has come through the School of Architecture and Built Environment's innovative degree program. This development is a natural progression of that mutually beneficial relationship," Professor Ostwald said.

Originally from Stuttgardt in Germany, Professor Lehmann worked under famous architects James Stirling and Michael Wilford in London, and Arata Isozaki in Japan before setting up his own practice in Berlin in 1993 aged 30. His robust design philosophy and indefatigable enthusiasm for architecture saw him win a number of open architecture competitions. He has also judged a number of international design awards.

In addition to working as an architect, he has taught at respected schools of architecture including Berlin Technical University and most recently at the Queensland University of Technology. His research areas include strategies for urban renewal and regionalism in architecture, an interest that has contributed to his desire to live and work in Newcastle.

Mr Suters said that Suters Architects has benefited enormously from the proximity of great minds at the University of Newcastle. "The high quality of our staff is testament to that. It seems logical to give something back to the University and our sponsorship contribution to this new Chair is a demonstrable expression of our thanks. We see this partnership between the University and Suters as a positive and creative contribution to the future of architecture in the region," Mr Suters said.

Professor Lehmann will officially take up his position in July, 2006. He will be visiting Newcastle on Thursday, 16th and Friday, 17th February and will be a guest speaker at a Forum organized by the Newcastle Alliance on Friday, 17th February. He can be contacted for interviews by telephoning Micky Pinkerton from Suters Architects on 0409 037 048.