Basic Biographical Details Name: | (Professor) George Alexander Macnab (misspelt McNab) | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1929 | Died: | 17 January 2003 | Bio Notes: | George Alexander Macnab (occasionally misspelt McNab) was born about 1929. He served in the Army from 1945 to 1948. Thereafter he studied for the diploma in architecture at the School of Architecture, Robert Gordon's College. He was the RIBA Recognised Schools Silver Medallist in 1952 and was admitted ARIBA in 1953. He was also AMTPI. In 1953 he took a post as assistant with the City Architect's Department in Aberdeen but the following year moved to the practice of Alan Reiach. At this date Reiach worked in partnership with Ralph Cowan as Reiach & Cowan. The practice title changed at various periods, becoming Alan Reiach, then from 1959 to 1965 Alan Reiach & Partners and from 1965 Alan Reiach Eric Hall & Partners. He joined Alan Reiach in partnership in 1958. He played a significant role in the direction in which the practice went during its first decade after the merger with Eric Hall. At his election to Fellowship of the RIBA in 1969 Reiach remarked that 'his ability to work with others in different disciplines...is an invaluable asset in our practice'. He was proposed by Alan Reiach, Eric Hall and Stuart Renton. During this period Reiach & Hall acquired a RUCAPS computer which though extremely complex to use was m,astered by Macnab. This was probably the first commercial CAD machine in Scotland.
He served as President of the EAA from 1974-1976, and served on the Council of the RIBA with a special interest in education. He was a member of a number of RIBA visiting Boards including one to Canada.
He left Reiach & Hall 1982 to undertake a commission to promote Computer Aided Design in South Africa. He became Professor of Architecture in the University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa with special duties in CAD, design and presentation. In 1987 he moved to a small private architectural practice in Botswana where he used his CAD skills in practice. He returned to Scotland in 1989.
His was overcome by illness shortly after his return to Scotland. He moved to Kirkmichael in 1994 where he had once had a holiday cottage. He died on 17 January 2003. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 25, Angusfield Avenue, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1953 * | | | | 44, Blacket Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1963 | After 1970 | | | 6, Darnaway Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1979 * | | | | Dept of Architecture, University of the Orange Fre, PO Box 339, , 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa | Business | 1987 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Eric Walker Hall | 16 July 1969 | For Fellowship | | Alan Reiach | 16 July 1969 | For Fellowship | | James Stuart Renton | 16 July 1969 | For Fellowship |
RIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | James Stuart Renton | 16 July 1969 | For Fellowship |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1948 | University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Department of Agriculture | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1954 | St Peter's Episcopal Church | Stornoway | Lewis | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | Chancel added | | 1956 | University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Field Station | Roslin | | Edinburgh | | | | 1957 | Belhaven Hospital | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Additions | | After 1958 | Secondary School | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1959 | Easthouses Church | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | Begun by Reiach and completed in partnership | | 1959 | Housing scheme fo Messrs Crudens, Newhailes | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1959 | Knox Academy | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | Extension to 1930s building | | 1959 | Maitland Park Housing scheme | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1950s or 1960s | Edinburgh Academy, Western Classrooms | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Link between Western classrooms and old Mathematics block at NW of forecourt | | 1960s | Forres Academy | Forres | | Morayshire | Scotland | Also swimming pool, uncertain date perhaps 1970s | | 1960s | George Wolfe House | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1960s | Haddington 'face-lift' improvement scheme | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1960s | Knox Academy, Primary School | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1960s | Secondary School | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | Senior Secondary School | Kilwinning | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1962 | 1, 3 Winton Loan | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1962 | Ash House | Gartocharn | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1962 | Festival Centre, Castle Terrace site | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Further schemes for Festival Centre | | 1962 | Golspie High School | Golspie | | Sutherland | Scotland | | | 1962 | Kildrum Parish Church | Cumbernauld | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1963 | Rock Cottages | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1963 | University of Edinburgh Appleton Tower (First Year Science Building) | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Project architect | | 1964 | Fire Station | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1964 | German Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Executant architects | | 1964 | Housing development | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Redevelopment of temporary housing | | 1964 | Office block | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1964 | Portobello Old and Windsor Place Parish Church hall | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1964 | Silverknowes Golf Club and Sports Pavilion | Silverknowes | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1964 | St Mungo's Church and hall | Cumbernauld | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1965 | University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Experimental Petrology | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1965 | Bow Yett housing development | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | After 1965 | North Gate housing development | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | After 1965 | University of Liverpool, Veterinary Field Station | Leahurst | | Liverpool | England | As project architect | | After 1965 | Western General Hospital, Medical Research Council Building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As project architect | | 1966 | Challenger Lodge | Trinity | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions | | 1966 | Craigleith House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Redevelopment | | 1966 | Dumbarton Civic Theatre and Community Centre | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Uncertain if involved or not. | | 1966 | New Club | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Redevelopment | | 1967 | Denny Civic Theatre | Denny | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | 1967 | Greendykes Children's Centre | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1968 | Heriot-Watt University, Maths, Physics and Chemistry departments | Riccarton | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1968 | Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus | Riccarton | | Midlothian | | | | 1969 | Office block, 2, 2A and 3 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1969 | University of Edinburgh, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions | | Late 1960s | Coleraine Technical College | Coleraine | | Londonerry | Northern Ireland | | | 1970 | Festival Centre, Castle Terrace site | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Third scheme for Festival Centre | | 1970 | Housing schemes for SSHA | | | | Scotland | Work planned. | | 1970 | Office block, 10 and 12 Young Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1970 | Police Headquarters | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Perhaps not involved? | | 1970 | University of Stirling, sports buildings with swimming pool | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Work planned. | | 1970 | Veterinary College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Work planned. | | 1970 | Western General Hospital, Human Genetics block | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Partner in charge | | 1971 | Orchard Brae House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1972 | Heriot-Watt University, Petroleum Engineering Department | Riccarton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Phase I | | 1972 | Offices at North St David Street, west side | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1972 | SSHA housing, Branshill | New Sauchie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Partner in charge | | 1973 | Heriot-Watt University, Department of Civil Engineering | Riccarton | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1973 | Heriot-Watt University, Mechanical Engineering Department | Riccarton | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1973 | Office development for Alex Lawrie | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1974 | Inverleith House | Inverleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1974 | Offices for Friends Provident, Charlotte Lane | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus, students' hostels | Riccarton | | Midliothian | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | University of St Andrews, students' hostel | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1977 | George Wolfe House | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | Addition | | 1978 | Challenger Lodge | Trinity | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition of SW wing for St Columba's Hospice | | 1979 | Syntex Research Centre | Riccarton | | Midlothian | Scotland | Phase I | | 1983 | St George's School, Arts Block | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | pp32, 34 Winton Loan p162-3 New Club p165-7 Appleton Tower, University of Edinburgh | | RIBA | 1964 | The RIBA Kalendar 1963-64 | | | | | RIBA | 1964 | The RIBA Kalendar 1964-65 | | | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | | | RIBA | 1979 | Directory of members | | | | | RIBA | 1987 | RIBA Directory of Members 1987 | | | | | Willis, Peter | 1977 | New architecture in Scotland | | | p32-3 Kildrum Parish Church p84-7 The New Club |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIAS Chartered Architect | 2003 | v.15, no.2 | | Spring issue |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIAS, Rutland Square | Records of membership | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no6839 (Combined Box 162) | | School of Architecture, Garthdee, Aberdeen, RGIT: former pupils, 1937-1970 | Galletly, James | | |
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