Alan Black
Alan Black, one of the inaugural partners of the original Michael Laird Partnership, sadly passed away at the weekend.
Together with Michael Laird, Alan was a driving force of the business and during the 1970’s and 80’s they were responsible for creating the design legacy and workplace culture which forms the foundations of today’s MLA.
During this time, the growing reputation of the practice attracted a widening array of key blue-chip clients that included Ethicon, Devro, W.L. Gore and Macallan, together with The Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard life.
Alan was a driving force of the business and was personally responsible for some of the practice’s most prestigious projects.
One of his first major projects was a unique energy centre at the Kings Buildings student facilities for the University of Edinburgh. The striking flue arrangement was groundbreaking and demonstrated a mastery of innovation and attention to detail that would become a key attribute of Alan’s design approach.
In his later years at the practice, Alan oversaw some of the capital’s most high-profile projects that included Drummond House at South Gyle for RBS and Tanfield House and Standard Life House for Standard Life. He also designed W L Gore’s office and industrial facility in Livingston. All of these buildings have endured having been designed with an outstanding approach to quality, longevity and the Scottish climate!!
As Managing Partner, Alan took over the reigns of the practice before retiring in 2001.
Alan always had a sense of occasion and was never too shy to celebrate a competition win or building handover.
Away from Architecture, Alan was devoted family man. He was an extremely capable fly fisherman and for many years combined a week’s Salmon fishing on the River Dee at Banchory with some wonderful corporate hospitality. Needless to say, the empty wine bottles tended to outnumber the salmon caught! He also enjoyed carpentry.
At MLA, the practice continues to embody the design ethos, thoughtful approach, and friendly office culture which Alan, together with the earlier partners, established.
Our thoughts go out his family – wife Jean and children Nicky, Maddie & Emma, and his grandchildren.
