Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Gordon Liam Findlay
Designation:  
Born: 2 July 1937
Died: 8 July 1998
Bio Notes: William Gordon Liam Findlay was born on 2 July 1937. He served his articles with Honeyman Jack & Robertson whilst at the same time attending day release and evening classes at Glasgow School of Art from 1955-60. In the latter year he was awarded the Certificate from the School and then embarked upon the diploma course at Edinburgh College of Art. In 1961 he won a scholarship for a Group Design of a Movable Theatre and in the same year was awarded an Andrew Grant Scholarship which he used to travel to Scandinavia and to assist with the cost of his thesis. He was awarded his diploma in 1962 and was elected ARIBA in 1964.

He returned to a post with Honeyman Jack & Partners where he was an assistant. In 1964 he transferred to the practice of J N Cunningham where he worked on a variety of projects including hotels and licensed premises and work for Scottish Brewers and Tennents Brewers. The practice subsequently became Thomas Cordiner Cunningham & Partners and Findlay became associate architect. There again he was involved with a range of jobs including private houses. It is not clear what role he had in the office between 1968 and his partnership in 1975 but perhaps senior associate. From 1972-75 he was involved with the establishment of an Aberdeen area office for the practice which undertook infrstructure planning and building liaison of the new town at Westhill.

In 1975 he became a partner with the Cunningham Glass Partnership as it was known by then and was in charge of the Aberdeen branch but in 1984 he left to found his own practice, Liam Findlay Architects where he was initially principal and in 1988 partner. From 1978 he was actively involved in education and career advice to local schools, pffering work placement for pre-school leavers. He also assisted in establishing an educational relationship between Grampian Region and Houston, Texas under the auspices of the Grampian Houston Association. He was elected FRIAS in 1991.

Findlay died suddenly while on holiday in Greece on 8 July 1998. He was survived by his wife, Anne.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Ardinamar, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate 1998 
Item 2 of 41, Cleveden Gardens, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1970 *  
Item 3 of 4Westhill House, Westhill, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19791998 
Item 4 of 4Kilmory/11, Braecroft Crescent, Westhill, Skene, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandPrivatec. 1991  

* 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 7Honeyman, Jack & Robertson19551960Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Honeyman, Jack & Robertson19621964Assistant 
Item 3 of 7James Napier Cunningham19641968Associate 
Item 4 of 7Thomas Cordiner, Cunningham & Partners19661968Associate 
Item 5 of 7Cunningham Glass Partnership19751984Partner 
Item 6 of 7Liam Findlay Architects1984 Principal Architect 
Item 7 of 7Liam Findlay Architects1988 Partner 

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 521962Private housing   Scotland 
Item 2 of 521962Scottish Industries Exhibition 1964  GlasgowScotlandExhibition stands
Item 3 of 521964Bethania House for the elderlyDunoon ArgyllScotlandAs assistant with Cunningham
Item 4 of 521964Hartfield SchoolDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandExtension - as assistant with Honeyman Jack & Robertson
Item 5 of 521964Private Housing SchemeBridge of Weir RenfrewshireScotlandAs assistant
Item 6 of 521964Private Housing SchemeNeilston RenfrewshireScotlandAs assistant
Item 7 of 521964Private Housing schemeKilmacolm RenfrewshireScotlandAs assistant
Item 8 of 521966Company headquarters for AMP (GB) LtdSowton Estate ExeterEnglandAs associate
Item 9 of 521966Glasgow School for the DeafMilton DunbartonshireScotlandAs associate
Item 10 of 521966Licensed premises complex, West George Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 521966Private houseRabat  MaltaAs associate architect
Item 12 of 521966Production research and development, staff facilities for AMP (GB) LtdBideford DevonEnglandAs associate
Item 13 of 521967Arthurlie Parish ChurchBarrhead Renfrewshire As assistant
Item 14 of 521967Wellpark Brewery, TownheadDennistoun GlasgowScotlandNew brewery on old site
Item 15 of 521970sBarrhead Sports CentreBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 16 of 521970sFactory office block  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 521970sProvost's PoolStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 18 of 521970sTelephone showroom  AberdeenScotland 
Item 19 of 52197215 private residential developmentsWesthill AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 20 of 52197250 acre public parkWesthill AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 21 of 521972Golf course and clubhouseWesthill AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 22 of 521972Industrial estateWesthill AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 23 of 521972Town Shopping CentreWesthill AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 24 of 521972Westhill TownshipWesthill AberdeenshireScotlandProject architect
Item 25 of 521975Caledonian House  AberdeenScotlandAs partner - probably in charge of project
Item 26 of 521975Castle ForbesAlford AberdeenshireScotlandRefurbishment
Item 27 of 521975Fincastle HarrisInverness-shireScotlandRefurbishment
Item 28 of 521975Industrial and commercial buildingsWesthill AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 29 of 521975Industrial and commercial buildings and warehousesBridge of Don AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 30 of 521977Carrongrange SchoolFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandExtension of Carrongrange annexe - section of High School
Item 31 of 521980Health CentreBarrhead Renfrewshire  
Item 32 of 521980Springburn CentreSpringburn GlasgowScotlandNot certain if involved?
Item 33 of 52Before 1981AMP FactoryPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 34 of 52Before 1981Clydesdale BankBridge of Don AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 35 of 52Before 1981Clydesdale Bank, Union Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 36 of 52Before 1981Factory for the SDABlantyre LanarkshireScotland 
Item 37 of 52Before 1981GEAR scheme  GlasgowScotland 
Item 38 of 52Before 1981Office block for International Caledonian Assets  AberdeenScotland 
Item 39 of 52Before 1981Scottish Equitable Distribution warehouse  GlasgowScotland 
Item 40 of 52Before 1981Sheletered Housing, EddlewoodHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 41 of 52Before 1981Sheltered housingCarluke LanarkshireScotland 
Item 42 of 52Before 1981Sheltered housingLarkhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 43 of 52Before 1981Torrance Primary SchoolTorrance StirlingshireScotlandProbably in conjunction with Strathclyde Regional Council Architectural Services.
Item 44 of 521982Grampian House  AberdeenScotland 
Item 45 of 521988Fincastle HarrisInverness-shireScotlandContinuation of refurbishment?
Item 46 of 521988Grampian House  AberdeenScotlandOutfitting and extension for Mobil North Sea Ltd
Item 47 of 52After 198872 flats, Great Western Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 48 of 52After 1988Glenfarclas DistilleryBallindalloch BanffshireScotlandVisitor Centre, hospitality facilities, offices, filling store and warehouses
Item 49 of 521989Russell HouseBroxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 50 of 521989Town Shopping CentreWesthill AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction?
Item 51 of 52Late 1980s40 general needs housing units and sheltered housingInverurie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 52 of 52Late 1980sFive private residential projects   Scotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 2 of 4RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 3 of 4RIBA1984RIBA Directory of members   
Item 4 of 4RIBA1994A Directory of RIBA Members   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS NewsletterOctober 1998v9, no9 Death note

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership