Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Finlayson McKenzie
Designation:  
Born: 17 June 1937
Died:  
Bio Notes: William Finlayson McKenzie was born on 17 June 1937. He studied part-time at the School of Architecture, Dundee College of Art from September 1956 and at the same time gained office experience (probably with Gauldie Hardie & Wright, though this has yet to be checked). In June 1959 he was awarded the certificate which exempted him from the RIBA intermediate exam. In June 1961 he was awarded the diploma which in turn exempted him from Parts I and II of the final exam. He passed the professional practice exam in October 1962 and was elected ARIBA in 1963, proposed by Arthur Francie Stevenson Wright, William Sinclair Gauldie and William Allan Cairns. He was elected ARIAS the same year.

He remained with the same practice after qualification, becoming an associate in May 1965 with the practice which by this date was Gauldie Hardie Wright & Needham. He was given much reponsibility during his years as associate: his Nomination Paper list a number of projects for which he had complete responsibility (see below) and a variety of smaller projects to the value of £10,000. Prior to 1970 he also acted as consultant for a number of schemes as well as undertaking general research and development in stystem building and preparation of metric ranges of house types.

He was elected FRIBA in 1970, proposed by Gauldie, Wright and Cairns again. Gauldie wrote of McKenzie in his proposer's statement that his 'capacity for executive action and for assuming responsibility was evident even before his election as associate' and that in the last seven years a 'considerable volume of work [was] placed in his personal charge'.

He was invited to become a partner in 1975. The practice later became Gauldie Wright & Partners.

McKenzie was architect director of Alexus Leisure Ltd from 1994 to 1998.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5DundeeBusiness   
Item 2 of 5Wellwood House, Ceres, Fife, ScotlandPrivatec. 1960  
Item 3 of 5Castle Hill House/1, High Street, Dundee, ScotlandPrivate1963  
Item 4 of 52, Osborne Place, Magdalen Yard Road, Dundee, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1965After 1970Address of Gauldie Gardie Wright & Needham.
Item 5 of 548, Fintry Place, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, ScotlandPrivate1970 *1990s 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3Gauldie, Hardie, Wright & Needhamc. 1956 Assistant 
Item 2 of 3Gauldie, Hardie, Wright & NeedhamMay 1965 Associate 
Item 3 of 3Gauldie Wright & Partners1975 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6William Allan Cairns26 June 1963For Associateship
Item 2 of 6William Allan Cairns22 July 1970For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6William Sinclair Gauldie26 June 1963For Associateship
Item 4 of 6William Sinclair Gauldie22 July 1970For Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Arthur Francis Stevenson Wright26 June 1963For Associateship
Item 6 of 6Arthur Francis Stevenson Wright22 July 1970For Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1William Allan Cairns17 July 1968For Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 121968Kirkton Neighbourhood Centre and LibraryArdler DundeeScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project
Item 2 of 12Late 1960sHouseAbernethy PerthshireScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project
Item 3 of 12Late 1960sHouse  DundeeScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project
Item 4 of 12Late 1960sHouseKirriemuir AngusScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project.
Item 5 of 12Late 1960sHousing, High StreetAlyth PerthshireScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project
Item 6 of 12Late 1960sJute Mill  DundeeScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project. Alterations
Item 7 of 12Late 1960sRailway Properties Housing developmentAlyth PerthshireScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project
Item 8 of 12Late 1960sWarehouseKirriemuir AngusScotland'Complete responsibility for all stages of work' on this project.
Item 9 of 12Before 1970HousingLivingston West LothianScotlandActed as Consultant.
Item 10 of 12Before 1970Housing  DundeeScotlandActed as consultant
Item 11 of 12Before 1970Private housingCraigie DundeeScotlandActed as consultant
Item 12 of 121975Police StationFintry DundeeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp111
Item 2 of 2RIBA1961Kalendar 1960-61   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers William Finlayson McKenzie: A no23597, F no7159 (Combined Box 176)