30 September 2013
Death of Professor Charles McKean
Charles McKean, Emeritus Professor of Scottish Architectural History at the University of Dundee, has died at the age of 67.
Professor McKean was the foremost authority on Scottish architectural history, with a distinguished career which also included being architecture correspondent for The Times newspaper and Chair of UNESCO Edinburgh World Heritage Trust.
He was appointed Head of the School of Architecture at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (part of the University of Dundee) in 1995, before taking up his position as Professor of Scottish Architectural History in the University's History department in 1997.
He was a passionate advocate of preserving Dundee's architectural history and led hundreds of walking tours of the city over the past two decades. He was awarded an Honorary Stephen Fry Award by the University in 2012 for his life time achievements in engaging the public with his research in Scottish architectural history.
"Charles McKean was a major voice in Scottish architecture and history and someone who made a tremendous impact in everything he did," said Professor Christopher Whatley, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Dundee.
"Charles played a critical role in establishing History at Dundee as a leading UK centre in the discipline. He was a dear colleague and friend and will be sadly missed by all here at the University. Our thoughts are with his family."
Before coming to Dundee, Professor McKean was Chief Executive of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
He edited the journal London Architect from 1970-75, before becoming architecture correspondent for The Times newspaper from 1977-83. He then held a similar position for Scotland On Sunday from 1988-90.
He held fellowships of the Royal Society of Arts, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Historical Society, and was an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
From 2003-09 he was a member of the Scottish committee of the Heritage Lottery Fund, one of many prominent committee positions he occupied. In 2005 he was appointed Honorary President of the St Andrews Preservation Trust.
He was also a prolific author of architecture and history books. He was a main contributor to the University's History of Dundee project, which produced three major books over a ten year period.
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