Henry McKeown has retired!

It’s impossible to sum up a career in a few words.

Henry has worked at jmarchitects for around 23 years and as for us all, there comes a moment when perhaps it’s time for retirement. When he joined jm, he had already a career working for Nicholas Groves Raines Architects where he was schooled in the art of conservation architecture. A period of 15 years followed where he worked for Elder and Cannon back in Glasgow, and also at his own practice, McKeown Alexander.

Henry’s contribution to jm was to consistently demand high design standards in all the projects that he reviewed and worked on, which in turn led to an output of consistent strong design that has been award winning and significant in the architectural direction of the practice.

Having been taught at the Mackintosh school of architecture in the 1980s, his interests were in the regeneration of the city and its typologies. So, the work at jm was ideal to pursue those interests.

Key projects, among many others over the years, are Melbourne Street housing, Musselburgh Health Centre, New Gorbals Health Centre, the Reid building at Glasgow school of Art, Garnock Academy, Albus building for Clyde Gateway, Lochgilp street housing for Igloo, East Renfrewshire Nurseries and more recently Calderwood, Holy family and Hawkhill Primary Schools.

All the projects have set high design standards for the practice and, importantly, are critical in supporting local communities.

The list goes on and your influence will continue.

“My main architectural memory of Henry will always be in the form of one of his many mantras – “if you only have an opportunity to specify a door handle ensure it’s a good one”.

In other words, never diminish the importance of simple decisions that ultimately add up to a much greater whole.

We first met in 4th year at the Mac where we formed an ambitious and supportive working relationship and that has lasted some 40 years. His plans to keep teaching will allow him to exercise his other passion - architectural education - where he will continue to pass on his knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation of young architects.”

             - Ian Alexander, Director, jmarchitects

Henry, we wish you well!

Credit: Ian Alexander, jmarchitects