New chairman for RIBA Cornwall

It was announced at last night's RIBA Cornwall Branch AGM that Chris Turner has been appointed as the new RIBA Cornwall Chair for the next two years.

Chris Turner is a Director at PBWC Architects where he leads a number of sectors including schools, urban regeneration, placemaking, later living and care. Chris said, "I am delighted to be appointed and look forward to helping the RIBA drive excellence in architecture at a local level for Cornwall. We have had a period of significant change in the last few years, with the covid pandemic and a restructuring of the RIBA at a national level.  Local members are keen to get back to meeting up in-person and attending more local CPD and networking events. We agreed as a committee last night to help facilitate this and organise an inspiring new series of events over the coming years."

Chris has identified a number of priorities he would like to focus on as branch Chair. "I'm keen to help foster new pathways into the profession for younger people in Cornwall, facilitating a low carbon future for Cornwall, and helping local members to address the unique challenges they face practicing in Cornwall. Now is a critical time for the industry as we need to work locally to help solve the global challenges of the rising cost of living, widening social inequality and the climate emergency. We need to be local agents of change if we are to help solve the unique problems associated with Cornwall’s seasonal and rural economy, high levels of deprivation, and the local housing crisis. I also want to better connect our local members together and work with local, regional, and national industry bodies and organisations to promote architecture and help position Cornish architects as a truly competent, highly skilled and valued source of solutions for the design and construction industry".

As well as chairmanship of the Cornwall branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Chris also takes over as chair of the Cornwall Architectural Trust.

Chris joined PBWC Architects in 2018 after working in London where he led the delivery of major mixed-use regeneration schemes in both the UK and abroad with project values of over £120m. Becoming a Director of the practice in 2021 Chris is now applying his passion for environmentally and socially responsible architecture and urban design to help shape the ethos and vision of the practice.