Construction industry pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following the announcement by Buckingham Palace that she passed away at Balmoral Castle on 8 September
Following the news that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II passed away yesterday (8 September), leaders in the construction industry have begun paying their respects to the Royal Family.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British history and the world’s oldest head of state.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
RIBA sends deepest condolences to the Royal Family
RIBA President, Simon Allford, said:
“On behalf of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), I send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“I sincerely thank Her Majesty for her unwavering support and patronage of our institute during her 70-year reign, a role she inherited from her father and one occupied by every monarch since Queen Victoria.
“Architecture has undergone huge evolution during the Queen’s seven decades on the throne. At the time of her coronation, following the devastation of WW2, architecture was all about welfare state-sponsored modernism as we entered a brave new world. Today, we’re prioritising innovative, low-carbon design that can meet the challenges of an uncertain future. Throughout these turbulent years, Her Majesty’s steady influence and calm assured presence has been a vital constant for our profession throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.
“In her seventy years, she personally opened (and reopened) an impressive list of buildings, with foundation stones and plaques recording her presence in almost every continent. She cut the ribbons of the British Library, Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru and Sydney Opera House, as well as our own Heinz Gallery – the former home of our Drawings Collection – in 1972. Over the next quarter-century, this gallery would host nearly 130 exhibitions that inspired the next generation of great architects and showcased pioneering work in architectural conservation.
“Each year Her Majesty also personally approved the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture, celebrating the lifetime achievements of many of the world’s greatest architectural talents – from Le Corbusier (1953) and Charles and Ray Eames (1979) to Norman Foster (1983), Frank Gehry (2000), Rem Koolhaas (2004), Dame Zaha Hadid (2016) and most recently Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi (2022). In doing so, Her Majesty demonstrated support for the advancement of architecture.
“Our thoughts are with the Royal Family, the Nation and Commonwealth as we collectively mourn Her Majesty’s death and celebrate her remarkable life.”
His Majesty the King releases statement about the death of his Mother, Her Majesty The Queen
The Queen’s eldest son and heir, Charles, the former Prince of Wales, has now become King of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms.
In a statement, he said: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother.
“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Construction Leadership Council writes to His Majesty the King
In a letter to His Majesty the King the Construction Leadership Council wrote:
‘I write to you as the Industry Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council to
offer condolences on behalf of our sector following the announcement of the death
of Queen Elizabeth II.
‘In a lifetime of public service, Her Majesty dedicated herself to the people of the
United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Her selfless commitment to duty was
reflected in the admiration in which she was held, both here in the United
Kingdom and globally. We know that for millions of people who work in our
industry, Her Majesty will have been a central and consistent figure in their lives,
a respected monarch whose legacy will inspire future generations.
‘Today, our thoughts are with the Royal Family and all others affected on this
saddest of days.’
We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty the Queen. She sought to improve lives wherever she could during her remarkable life of public service. We send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family, and everyone else who is grieving on this very sad day. pic.twitter.com/lW5fME40q6
— Costain Group (@CostainGroup) September 8, 2022
Institution of Civil Engineers release statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Ed McCann, president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, made the following statement:
‘The Institution is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen. Our thoughts are with her children and family at this extremely difficult time.
‘The Queen became Patron of the Institution upon her ascent to the throne in 1952 until 2017 when she stepped back from a number of patronages. She visited our headquarters at One Great George Street on several occasions. We are immensely grateful for her sustained support, and that of her family.
‘Her Majesty has been a reassuring constant in a fast-changing world where most of us have known her as our only sovereign. I know I speak for many thousands of civil engineers around the world when I pay tribute to her extraordinary contribution.
‘She will be greatly missed.’
Her Majesty The Queen leaves an unprecedented legacy through the charities, businesses and individuals
John Hirst, chairman, BSI and Susan Taylor Martin, chief executive, BSI, wrote:
‘We join the nation and the wider world in mourning the loss of Her Majesty The Queen. We offer our sympathy and condolences to the Royal Family at this very sad time.
‘She leaves an unprecedented legacy through the charities, businesses and individuals where she has had such an impact, and we remain deeply honoured to have held a Royal Charter throughout her reign. We will remain forever grateful for her decades of public service as the longest-reigning Monarch in British history.’
‘For 70 years, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a guiding light to Britain and the World’
The Association for Project Management (APM) is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Professor Adam Boddison, chief executive of APM, commented: “On behalf of our employees and members, I would like to express our sincere condolences to the Royal Family on this saddest of news.
“For 70 years, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a guiding light to Britain and the World, showing true leadership during periods of immense challenge and unprecedented change. She will be greatly missed.”
‘Her Majesty dedicated herself to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth’
Mark Reynolds, Mace group chief executive and CLC co-chair, said: “In a lifetime of public service, Her Majesty dedicated herself to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Her selfless commitment to duty was reflected in the admiration in which she was held, both here in the United Kingdom and globally.
“We know that for millions of people who work in our industry, Her Majesty will have been a central and consistent figure in their lives, a respected monarch whose legacy will inspire future generations. Today, our thoughts are with the Royal Family and all others affected on this saddest of days.”
Wates pays tribute to Her Majesty for her unparalleled service to this country
Wates chairman James Wates said: “At Wates, we are proud to have welcomed Her Majesty to a number of projects over the years, not least when she opened the new Queen Elizabeth Unit at the Royal London Hospital this April.
“Our thoughts are with the Royal family at this sad time. On behalf of the Wates Family and the Wates Group, I would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty for her unparalleled service to this country. We mourn her loss alongside the rest of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.”
