Kirsty Lees is a The Stage 4 Leader at the Mackintosh School of Architecture (MSA), Glasgow School of Art (GSA). After 15 years balancing her own architectural practice with part- time roles at MSA, she accepted her current full-time academic role in 2023. Responsibilities include course coordination and management, studio design tutoring, supervision, assessment and research.
Leading a committed team, Stage 4 at MSA, Kirsty helps students navigate the complexities of building in the urban context in dialogue with each other and the city of Glasgow. It requires students to be explicit in their articulation of an architectural position and builds robust, disciplined design methodologies to explore the architectural, technical, cultural, political, social, economic and sustainability challenges facing contemporary society.
In both teaching and practice Kirsty has consistently promoted collaborative working practices to explore our collective ability to deliver better buildings and places, stronger inclusive communities and a sustainable environment.
As the convenor of the InterACT (2016 -2021), she worked with staff and students from Glasgow University, University West of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University in the disciplines of architecture, structural engineering, and quantity surveying to promote effective interdisciplinary working relationships. InterACT consolidates MSA’ varied UG interdisciplinary learning experiences and supports an understanding of the applicability of this learning as they transition into professional practice. The student’s perceptions of collaborative working practices through InterACT formed the basis of her research through the PG Cert Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching.
As a founding partner of tektonika architects, her 20 years of architectural practice evolved with the passing of The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to encompass several community engagement projects based in the Dumfries and Galloway region. RAW Dalbeattie, the largest community asset transfer project of its kind, was awarded levelling up funding in 2023 and is due to commence construction in 2024.
Previous collaborative projects with MiA were formalised in 2020 with an invitation to join the three founders, Miranda Webster, Kathy Li and Isabel Deakin in their collective endeavour to promote creativity and action within the architecture profession. Filling the gaps in architecture they care about, MiA explore this through three key areas of activity: education, engagement and research with equality at the heart. Kirsty’s current research interests pursue these themes in relation to the city of Glasgow and social justice.
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