The Royal Institute of British Architects has today staged a protest with the architects and engineers who built the Olympic buildings. Strict contractual rules have meant that they are not able to do any pro-active work to promote their role in London 2012.
In an effort to encourage LOCOG to do more to promote, and to allow the architects and engineers to promote, their great work on the inspiring Olympic buildings, they did a literal "name drop" by unfurling a banner from RIBA's central London HQ listing the names of all the design and engineering companies involved in the Olympics.
The banner was dropped by RIBA President, Angela Brady, President of the Institute of Structural Engineers, John Nolan and Peter Murray, Director of New London Architecture. Olympic architects and engineers surrounded the banner wearing T-shirts listing all the firms involved in designing the Games.
"Architects and engineers have delivered incredible buildings which are hosting the London 2012 Games right now," said Angela Brady, President of RIBA. "We are calling on LOCOG to be proud of our architectural and engineering achievements for the London 2012 Olympics and do everything they can to promote the buildings and all the designers involved. Time is of the essence and we want them to start doing it now, and very importantly, to let architects get out there and talk about their work now. Let's shout about the great design and engineering talent that the UK has to offer and not miss this valuable opportunity to do so."
"When the government called for businesses involved in the Olympics to promote themselves overseas to support the British economy it seems crazy that architects, consultants and other suppliers to the Olympics are gagged in this draconian way," commented Peter Murray, Director of New London Architecture.
Photos: Jack Shaw