Basic Biographical Details

Name: William McDonald
Designation:  
Born: 1927
Died:  
Bio Notes: William McDonald was born in Glasgow in 1927 and was educated there. From 1944 he served his articles with the Chief Architect, Glasgow Corporation Housing Department while taking the part-time course in architecture at Glasgow School of Art. His studies were interrupted in 1945 when he was called up to serve with the Royal Engineers Works Services, latterly being based in Germany. In 1948 he returned to Glasgow to resume his studies and employment with the Housing Department. In 1952 he completed the certificate course (RIBA Intermediate standard) but continued to study privately. He was elected a student member of the RIBA in that year.

In 1953 he took a post with East Kilbride Development Corporation where he worked on a variety of projects including a large printing factory. In 1957 he passed the RIBA external final exam and was admitted ARIBA. On 25 June of that year he was admitted ARIAS. At the time of his election he was living in East Kilbride. In that year he moved to a post as group leader with Lanark County Architect’s Department and worked on the design of schools. He remained there until 1960 when he was appointed Principal Assistant Architect with the Western Regional Hospital Board. He worked on a variety of projects including the neurosurgical and neurological units at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

In 1967 he joined the practice of Thomas Smith Gibb & Pate as an associate and was invited to become a partner in 1975. The partnership was dissolved in 1983. In 1985 he formed his own practice with Barry Edward Williams, a former colleague from Thomas Smith Gibb & Pate, as McDonald Williams Partnership. He was elected FRIAS the following year. In 1991 he retired from the practice becoming a salaried consultant until 1999 when Barry Williams died and the practice was dissolved.

In 1994 he had resigned from the RIBA. From that year until 1999 he worked as a volunteer collating and cataloguing the Dean of Guild Court submissions to the Burgh of Helensburgh and then began on a similar project in Glasgow.

In 1954 McDonald married Janet Freeland Russell Campbell who died in 2005. He has one son, Alastair, who is an astronomer in Germany and one daughter, Eileen who works as a teacher, also in Germany. Bill has played the bagpipes with considerable skill for many years, which he claims ‘keeps me sane!’.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 41595, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivatec. 1954  
Item 2 of 419, Dryburgh Hill, West Mains, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivatec. 1957After 1964 
Item 3 of 410, Cumberland Terrace, Rhu, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivate(?)1970 *After 1972 
Item 4 of 4McDonald Williams Partnership/9, Park Quadrant, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1986 *  

* 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 3Thomas Smith, Gibb & Pate1967 * Associate 
Item 2 of 3Thomas Smith, Gibb & Pate1975 Partner 
Item 3 of 3Thomas Smith, Gibb & Pate1975c. 1983Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 81970sHousing developments, BroadfieldPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 2 of 81970sYMCA and YWCA premisesCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 3 of 8Before 1981Sheltered housing for Bield Housing AssociationDunoon ArgyllScotland 
Item 4 of 8Before 1981Sheltered housing for Kirkcare Housing AssociationWilliamwood RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 5 of 8Before 1981Sheltered Housing for Kirkcare Housing AssociationGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 8Before 1981Sheltered housing for the Bield Housing AssociationKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 7 of 8Before 1981Sheltered housing for the Bield Housing AssociationAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 8 of 8Before 1981TAVR (Territorial Army) CentreKirkcaldy FifeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 2 of 7RIBA1957The RIBA Kalendar 1957-1958 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 7RIBA1964The RIBA Kalendar 1964-65   
Item 4 of 7RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 5 of 7RIBA1972RIBA Directory 1972   
Item 6 of 7RIBA1980Directory of Practices 1980   
Item 7 of 7RIBA1986RIBA Directory of Members 1986   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Courtesy of William McDonaldInformation sent per Robert Forsyth Sent 2006
Item 2 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership