We are proud to announce that NGHA Director, Fraser Stewart, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Glasgow School of Art at their Winter Graduation on 19th November.
Fraser Stewart was recognised for his commitment to developing sustainable neighbourhoods through social housing. In her Oration, Head of the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Sally Stewart, placed particular emphasis on the new approaches to regeneration and urban place making that Fraser has established while "rebuilding the Gorbals to address the contemporary needs and aspirations of its community [evidencing] that social housing can be the best available to anyone".
She added that: "he has supported a community to determine what it wants for itself, and enabled design and construction professionals to realise that vision, all the time demanding highest quality possible".
Fraser accepted his honour "in deference to the many incredible volunteers in the Gorbals community who employ me and have inspired me".
He added: "I would not be standing here without my New Gorbals Housing Association committee members and colleagues’ constant support and commitment over the last three decades. All of this is for them."
In his speech Fraser emphasised the role of the communities across the city who laid the foundations for Glasgow’s renaissance in the 1980’s: "Glasgow’s recovery began (in the 1970’s) when groups in run down inner-city neighbourhoods organised themselves to begin rehabilitating their tenement homes and regenerating their communities, working furiously hard alongside local architects to transform their so-called slums into fine housing and vibrant places to live in."
Jean Miller, Chair, New Gorbals Housing Association said: ‘I am delighted Fraser’s achievements have been recognised in this way. Not just for the way he has driven forward our plans for the regeneration of the Gorbals over 30 years but for his work on behalf of community-controlled Housing Associations across Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Scottish Housing would be a poorer place without him.’
