© All rights reserved. Image kindly provided by Steel 

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Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Steel
Designation: Architect
Born: 21 May 1914
Died: 12 February 1984
Bio Notes: John Steel was born on 21 May 1914. In 1930 he enrolled on the Certificate course in architecture at Glasgow School of Art and studied there and at the Royal Technical College, probably full-time, until 1934 at which date he was exempted from the intermediate examination. He completed the course as a partl-time student between 1934 and 1935. Therafter he would appear to have been an assistant in the office of James Taylor for fifteen months. Steel had a post with J M Monro & Son, probably in the late 1930s. In 1939 he passed the final examination and was admitted ARIBA on 16 April 1940 proposed by William James Smith, Thomas Harold Hughes and James Taylor. By that time he was an employee of Glasgow Transport Department.

Steel moved to Northern Ireland and rose to become Chief Architect & Plannning Officer, the Ministry of Health, Northern Ireland and from there he emigrated to become Commissioner of Works for Regina and then in a similar post in Calgary. He was elected FRIBA in 1963, his proposers being John Cyril Clayton, James Anthony Paddock and G J Greenhaugh. In October of that year took up the post of Chief Commissioner in Calgary.

By the late 1970s, perhaps after retirement, he moved to Ontario. He died on 12 Feburary 1984.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 31, Fitzallan Road, Renfrew, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate(?)Before 1940 *After 1943 
Item 2 of 37823, Chardie Road, Calgary, CanadaPrivate1963 *  
Item 3 of 3c/o Elley/5, Avon Road, St Thomas, Ontario, CanadaPrivateLate 1970s  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 4James Taylor1930s AssistantFor fifteen months
Item 2 of 4J M Monro & SonLate 1930s Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Ministry of Health and Local Government, Government of Northern IrelandLate 1950s Chief Architect 
Item 4 of 4William Holford & Associates1975 * Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John Stone Craig1925 Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Clark Fyfe1929 Apprentice 
Item 3 of 3Clark Fyfe19291935Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6John Cyril ClaytonLate 1963For Fellowship
Item 2 of 6G J GreenhaughLate 1963For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Thomas Harold Hughes16 April 1940For Associateship
Item 4 of 6James Anthony PaddockLate 1963For Fellowship
Item 5 of 6(Professor) William James Smith16 April 1940For Associateship
Item 6 of 6James Taylor16 April 1940For Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 141931(?)Marks & Spencer storePaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAs assistant with J M Monro & Partners
Item 2 of 141935Marks & Spencer store  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant with J M Monro & Son
Item 3 of 141936Atholl Palace Hotel, HighwaysPitlochry PerthshireScotlandAs assistant with J M Monro & Son
Item 4 of 141936Marks & Spencer store  DundeeScotlandAs assistant with J M Monro & Son
Item 5 of 14c. 1938De Haviland FactoryHatfield HertfordshireEnglandAs assistant with J M Monro & Son.
Item 6 of 14Late 1930sAtholl Hydropathic EstablishmentPitlochry PerthshireScotlandAs assistant with J M Monro & Son?
Item 7 of 14Late 1930sMarks & Spencer's store  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant
Item 8 of 141974Forth Street, central section  EdinburghScotlandInterior remodelled (had been previously converted to a warehouse).
Item 9 of 14Before 19759-10 Woodside Crescent  GlasgowScotlandRestoration
Item 10 of 14Before 1975Block of luxury flats  EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 14Before 1975Civil Service College  EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 14Before 1975Department of Agriculture & Fisheries for Scotland (DAFS), marine laboratory and boiler houseTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 13 of 14Before 1975Multi-storey car park, Cambridge Street  GlasgowScotlandConsultants for car park
Item 14 of 14Before 1975Telephone ExchangeDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandExtension

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Duncan McCulloch: F no 5350 (Combined Box 73)

Images

© All rights reserved. Image kindly provided by Steel 

© All rights reserved. Image kindly provided by Steel's daughter, June Elley, sent via Muireann Kyeyune, Atholl Palace Hotel.