In each RSAW Presidency, Honorary Membership is awarded to individuals who have played a significant role in a field related to architecture.
Colin King, Technical Lead - Retrofit & Construction at Sero has been awarded as an Honorary Member of RSAW for 2021.
Colin has a wealth of experience in the housing sector, stemming from his early career days working for a well known national housebuilder. Moving to Cardiff City Council working on the delivery of new housing, his extensive knowledge led him to become a technical author on the Code for Sustainable Homes standards, produced by the BRE and subsequently led to his work and research in the retrofit sector, a valuable set of skills needed for the housing industry, today and for the future.
Colin previously served as the lead officer for the BRE on matters of housing and building solutions in the new build and refurbishment sector. Colin was closely involved in a research project for the DECC examining heat loss through walls and the consequences of improper thermal improvement works in retrofit projects.
The importance of decarbonisation in the construction industry and the role retrofit has to play in that aim has become a topic of particular prominence in recent years. However, that concern has been at the forefront of Colin King's entire career and as such he is a significant specialist in the topic today. He emphasises the need to develop workable solutions to our carbon usage that are robustly understood and implemented as well as the importance of making it easy for people in all aspects of the industry and wider society to engage. His foresight and passion stretching back to his earlier career means he has been, and will continue to be, a valuable contributor to the profession and wider industry as we tackle what will be the defining challenge of our species.
It is essential that the RSAW's voice is heard in the monumental climate change challenge that faces all of us. In particular, it is important that technical understanding is applied thoroughly in the face of inevitable reactionary misjudgements that we are already seeing, particularly in the refurbishment of existing building stock, in Wales.
Colin started his relationship with the RSAW when he was a speaker at the RSAW Optimised Retrofit Programme CPD series and the experience that Colin King will bring to the RSAW is invaluable.
RSAW is delighted to welcome Colin King as an Honorary Member of the society in recognition of his contribution to architecture in Wales through his technical work and research into housing retrofit.
