Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Newton Rennie
Designation:  
Born: 12 November 1928
Died: 28 July 1998
Bio Notes: James Newton Rennie was born in humble circumstances on 12 Novermber 1928, the son of James Rennie, van driver, and his wife Margaret Jean Newton. He was educated at the village school in Kilmacolm and afterwards at Greenock High School. He then went on to study architecture part-time at Glasgow School of Art while at the same time serving his articles with Frank Burnet Boston & Partners from 1944. He was elected ARIAS in 1958. He became a partner before 1968 and was ultimately senior partner. He retired on 31 March 1995, having climbed the stairs in 180 Hope Street for more than 50 years.

He was particularly proud of the work he had done with the National Sports Council and especially of the National Sports Centre at largs and the National Outdoor Centre at Glenmore Lodge. In 1977 he achieved a life-long ambition of designing his own house, Atrium, Kilmacolm and it was here that his concern for details in quality design is shown to its best advantage.

Outwith his proefessional life he was a keen sportsman. As a young man he had played football with the Kilmacolm amateurs and was a life-long member of Kilmacolm Golf Club and a member of Wet=stern Gailes and Turnberry. Gold was his first love and he captained the British Architects against America.

Besides sport, Rennie was interested in the arts, paintings, music, opera and books. He excelled in latter writing and photography and he kept chow dogs. He was also a generous host and enjoyed the company of friends. He was involved in the village life of Kilmacolm and was an elder of the Old Kirk there.

He died in the Western Infirmary in Glasgow on 28 July 1998, survived by his wife Elizabeth Sheila Stewart, a retired secretary and their children of whom he was immensely proud.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Atrium, Duchal Road, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate 1998 
Item 2 of 4180, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19441994 
Item 3 of 414, Old Hall Drive, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1954 *  
Item 4 of 4Truro, Broomknowe, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1957 *After 1958 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Frank Burnet & Boston1944 Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2Frank Burnet Bell & PartnersBefore 19681994PartnerRecorded in 1975 directory as sole partner.

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 391960Canniesburn Hospital, Geriatric UnitBearsden GlasgowScotland120-bed geriatric unit addded
Item 2 of 391960Factory for Enfield Standard Power Cables, WestburnCambuslang LanarkshireScotland 
Item 3 of 391960Head office of Stenhouse Holdings Ltd  GlasgowScotlandModernisation of office
Item 4 of 391960Linnwood High SchoolLinnwood Renfrewshire  
Item 5 of 391960Royal Hospital for Sick ChildrenYorkhill GlasgowScotlandAdmission block, laboratory block, doctors' and nurses' residences added
Item 6 of 391960University of Glasgow(?), regional physics building  GlasgowScotland 
Item 7 of 391964Cairnbaan HotelCairnbaan ArgyllScotlandFlat-roofed restaurant added
Item 8 of 391967British Linen Bank  GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 391967British Linen BankKillearn StirlingshireScotland 
Item 10 of 391967House for F A DonaldsonKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 11 of 391967House for D A KerrGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 12 of 391967Restaurant, West Regent Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 391968Convent for the Order of Notre DameDowanhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 391968Convent for the Order of Notre DameCumbernauld LanarkshireScotland 
Item 15 of 391968Sports HallLargs AyrshireScotland 
Item 16 of 391968Telephone Engineering CentreRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 17 of 391968Telephone ExchangeNewton Mearns RenfrewshireScotlandExtension
Item 18 of 39Before 1973Office for the Halifax Building SocietyGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 19 of 39Before 1973Secondary SchoolSpateston, Johnstone RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 20 of 39Before 1973Secondary School for Strathclyde Regional CouncilBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 21 of 391974National Water Sports Training CentreMillportGreat CumbraeButeScotlandProject architect with Robert McPhail
Item 22 of 39Before 1975Belvidere Hospital  GlasgowScotlandX-ray building
Item 23 of 39Before 1975House for DonaldsonKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 24 of 39Before 1975HousingGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 25 of 39Before 1975Office for the Halifax Building SocietyDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 26 of 39Before 1975Restaurant for Ferrari  GlasgowScotland 
Item 27 of 39Before 1975Shop for Wylie-Hill  GlasgowScotland 
Item 28 of 39Before 1975Workshops and offices for PSARutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 29 of 39Before 1981Bank of ScotlandLarkhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 30 of 39Before 1981Clydesdale BankStrathaven LanarkshireScotland 
Item 31 of 39Before 1981Factory for KincaidsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 32 of 39Before 1981Hospital Units for the Greater Glasgow Health Board  GlasgowScotland 
Item 33 of 39Before 1981Office for the Halifax Building Society  GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 39Before 1981Office for the Provincial Insurance Co.  GlasgowScotland 
Item 35 of 39Before 1981Public house for GrahamGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 36 of 39Before 1981Royal BankKilmacolm/Kilmalcolm RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 37 of 39Before 1981Royal Bank of ScotlandSaltcoats AyrshireScotland 
Item 38 of 39Before 1981School for Strathclyde Regional Council  GlasgowScotland 
Item 39 of 39Before 1981Workshops and offices for PSAStirling StirlingshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp142
Item 2 of 7RIBA1957The RIBA Kalendar 1957-1958 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 7RIBA1965The RIBA Kalendar   
Item 4 of 7RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 5 of 7RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 6 of 7RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   
Item 7 of 7Willis, Peter1977New architecture in Scotland  p15 Photograph of National Water Sports Training Centre

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Glasgow HeraldAugust 1998  Obituary
Item 2 of 2RIAS NewsletterNovember 1998v9, no9 Death note

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership