Chris Williamson elected RIBA President 2025

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has just announced that Chris Williamson has been elected as the next RIBA President. The RIBA is one of the highest positions in British architecture and is a professional association for architects, established to promote excellence and provide support and resources for architects and architecture students. As RIBA President 2025, Chris Williamson will take up office as President-elect from September 2024, followed by a two-year term as President, taking over from Muyiwa Oki from September 2025.

Chris Williamson is a well-known architect and co-founder of UK-based Weston Williamson + Partners (WW+P). As former International Vice President of the RIBA, he was responsible for developing a strategy to grow the RIBA into an international membership institution. In addition, he recently wrote WW+P’s vision for the next 20 years, emphasising a “diverse, collaborative design studio with strong execution capabilities”.

He ran against Duncan Baker-Brown and Funmbi Adeagbo in the election. With his passion for social mobility, people-centered architecture and global vision, Chris Williamson believes the RIBA can “do more.” In an interview with AJ, the incoming RIBA President highlighted his vision to promote hope and collaboration, improve transparency and communication, and support lifelong learning. The candidate is committed to renewing the RIBA as the leading institute for architectural education and practice worldwide, and aims to drive the institution towards architectural excellence and inclusivity.

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My own practice, Weston Williamson + Partners, specialises in transport infrastructure. Transport accounts for 27% of greenhouse gas emissions and we are passionate about getting travellers out of their cars and onto safe, efficient, beautifully designed and integrated public transport. I think the biggest impact on our cities will be the way we move around in and between them. – Chris Williamson.

The studio he co-founded, Weston Williamson + Partners, aims to “put people at the centre of everything they do”. They recently completed the iconic Paddington Elizabeth Line Station in London, which serves as a transport hub and transforms the passenger experience. In other related news, RIBA recently announced Lesley Lokko as the winner of the 2024 RIBA Royal Gold Medal. In addition, the institution has just announced an international open design competition for a new Conservation Centre at the Oloololo Gate in the Masai Mara in Kenya.