NOMINATION FOR THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - KHARAGPUR RANJIT DHAR

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1 NOMINATION FOR THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - KHARAGPUR RANJIT DHAR CITATIONS, RECORDS OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS Ranjit Dhar is a passionate and committed advocate of the value of the architectural profession: architects can and must be preeminent leaders in society by fostering and participating in the discourse on the environment, the success of our cities, and the importance of diversity in contemporary culture. His career-long service to provincial, national and international professional organizations continues to make a tangible difference in advancing excellence within the practice of architecture and our communities. In the face of global trends, individuals of distinction like Mr. Dhar are crucial to ensuring the growth and development of the architectural profession. His career-long dedication to providing leadership in our architectural and professional organizations has been formally recognized by his election to the following provincial organizations: Council of the Architects Association of New Brunswick in 1973 Council of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) in 1998 and subsequent service as Vice-President in 1999, Senior Vice-President in 2000 and President in 2001 Since 2003 Ranjit has been a Director of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), acting as the Second Vice-President and Treasurer in 2007, First Vice-President / President Elect in 2008 to 2009 and President from 2009 to While at the RAIC, Ranjit participated in implementing a National Model Architectural Policy, An Intern Program, A National Continuing Education Program, Integration of International Architecture Graduates (IAG) and a QBS initiative among other initiatives. As an Executive of the RAIC, Randy has been particularly effective as a liaison with all stakeholders within the design and construction industries. A firm believer in sharing knowledge, Ranjit has organized and chaired professional conferences that cross international borders. Since 1997, he has been instrumental in creating opportunities for participation in seminars advancing Design-Build project delivery method and justice architecture practice in Canada and the USA. This work has been accomplished in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), Canadian Design-Build Institute (CBDI), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA, RAIC, OAA, Canadian Construction Association (CCA), several Canadian and American universities and public sector organizations. 1 P a g e

2 Ranjit s committed service to AIA International over many years has included a number of leadership positions. He was the Chairman of the Design-Build PIA in 2001 and Ranjit was also the prime force behind the landmark AIA book titled The Architects Guide to Design-Build Services (Wiley, New York, 2003) and participated as both coeditor and a chapter author. Since 2004, Ranjit has served on the Steering Committee of the AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice contributing as Vice-Chairman in His on-going involvement the AIA was recognized in 2008 by the award of an honorary Fellowship in The American Institute of Architects. As a dedicated contributor to the field of Justice Architecture, Ranjit has earned international acclaim in this area of practice. The AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) appointed him the lead co-chair of the AIA Third International Conference on Courthouse design held in Toronto in As a legacy project, he established the RAIC Justice Architecture Group (JAG). Randy continues to chair JAG and has recently initiated a national biennial Student Design competition Award in Justice Architecture sustained by the $95, that he raised for the AIA conference. Also among his groundbreaking achievements, Ranjit was a Founder of the Canadian Design-Build Institute where he served as Chairman from He is the first government employee and the second architect to serve as a Director of the Board of Canadian Construction Association ( ) which represents the single largest industry in Canada. Ranjit was instrumental in forming a high-powered Government and Industry Relations Group consisting of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), RAIC, Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) and the Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC) for discussion and resolving design and construction related issues. As a leader in the profession, Ranjit continues to have an enduring effect on the advancement of architecture and architects here in Ontario and around the world. Perhaps his most valuable contribution to the profession is his ability to build networks across the design and construction industries in Canada as well as between the architects of Canada, the United States and beyond. Dhar s architectural legacy goes beyond Canadian borders into the U.S. and further abroad. His career-long dedication in leading professional associations, improving project delivery, and promoting coordination within the building industry outlines his contributions to the profession. AIArchitect AIA Names 13 Distinguished International Architects as Honorary Fellows of the Institute March 14, P a g e

3 SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP IN THE PROFESSION OF ARCHTECTURE Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Treasurer, 2007 Director, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Justice Architecture Group Founding Chairman of Justices Professional Interest Group, Present i. Implemented a biennal Student Design Competition Award in Justice Architecture awarding $3, to $5, awards every two years for the $95, raised by Ranjit. ii. Organized and chaired Justice Architecture seminars and workshops with the AIA in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and other locations Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) President, 2001 Senior Vice President 2000 Vice President 1000 Councilor Architects Association of New Brunswick (AANB) Councillor, i. Produced the first monthly bulletin ii. Assisted in developing the Architectural Experience Record System and Registration Examination for Interns based on the OAA model iii. Implements effective liaison with Engineering, Construction and Planning Associates and with all levels of Government Canadian Design-Build Institute (CBDI) A Founder and Chairman, iv. Established CBDI as the national voice of Design Build in Canada v. Chairman, Education and Communications Committee responsible for organizing and chairing annual professional conferences since 1998, with close collaboration with the AIA, DBA, RAIC, provincial Engineering and Architectural Associations, Construction Associates, all levels of government and the participation of a number of universities vi. Assisted in producing on-going series of Practice Manuals, News Bulletins and website upgrades vii. Initiated and assisted in producing a remuneration matrix to assist owners to select the appropriate project delivery method viii. General governance, member recruitment, media contact and establishing a strong relationship with the DBAI and AIA ix. Assisting in implementing an annual Design-Build Excellence award program in Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Director of the Board, P a g e

4 i. He is the first government employee and the second architect on the Board, liaising with the federal government, all design professions in Canada and international construction associations such as AGC, Mexico, the UK and other such organizations. ii. Active participant as a voting member in the following committees: Standards of Practice, Environment, International and Membership. Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) Councilor and Treasurer, : assisted in implementing an act for a selfregulated profession and professional registration process. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Design-Build Knowledge Community Chairman, and Chairman Emeritus, Major contributions: Initiator, Co-editor and co-author of the landmark AIA book The Architects Guide to Design-Build Services (Wiley, New York, 2003) Organized and chaired a series of AIA conferences in collaboration with other design and construction organizations in a number of locations such as Toronto (1998 and 2000), Washington DC (1999), Philadelphia in 2000, Denver (2001), Victoria (2001), Atlanta in 2002, Calgary (2002), San Diego (2003) and RIBA, UK (2007). Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) Member, Steering Committee since 2004 and Vice-chair in Jury Chair AAJ Justice Facilities Review, Annual Publication, , and Juror in 1998 Juror, National Centre for State Courts publication retrospective of Courthouse Design Williamsburg, VA (2000) Lead co-chair, AIA Third International Conference on Courthouse Design Delivering Justice in the Third Millennium held in Toronto in Collaboration with the US Government Services Agency, the Government of Canada and Courts of Canada as well as a number of universities and other public and private organizations. This conference was the finest of its kind that has ever been mounted on the subject by the AIA. Todd Phillips, PhD, AIA International Student Design Competition on Courthouse Design Initiated by Ranjit Dhar and sponsored by Dupont/UIA. Over 1,200 students from more than 130 universities from all over the world participated. SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP WITHIN OUR LARGER PUBLIC COMMUNITIES Director, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), a registered corporation of some 40,000 professional Federal employees. Chairman, Architecture &Town Planning Group of the PIPSC, Vice-chair, 1986 and Member, of the Committee of Adjustment., a quasi-judicial board constituted under the Ontario Planning Act to hold public hearings considering the granting of variances from the City Zoning Bylaws, City of North York (now within Toronto) Member of the City of Saint John Planning Commission, NB, Founding Member of the Mayor s Task Force on conservation Planning, Saint John, NB, P a g e

5 Founding Chairman the Government/Design/Construction Industry Committee and Federal/Provincial Governments Architecture, Engineering and Construction Associations, Toronto, Member of the National Taskforce on Outsourcing of Architectural and Engineering Services of the Government of Canada with high level representatives of Federal Government, design and construction industries, Organizer and Chair of a series of public seminars and forums on justice Architecture and Procurements of A&E Services and Quality-Based Selection of consultants for government organizations. RECOGNITION, AWARDS AND HONOURS OF NOTE Deputy Minister s Award of Excellence, Only employee of Public Works and Government Services to receive this award three times: 1986, 1997, 1999 Mayor of North York s Civic Award for contributions for the development and growth of North York (now within Toronto), 1986 AIA President Ronald Altoon s Certificate of Appreciation for a special contribution toe the Third International Courthouse Design Conference, 1998 AIA President Gordon Chong s Certificate of Appreciation for a special contribution to the profession as the Chair of Design-Build PIA, 2110/2002 US State Department (TCM) Scholarship for graduate studies as the University of Illinois for 2 years, Honorary Fellow, American Institute of Architects, 2008 Fellow, Canadian Design-Build Institute, 2008 Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, 2000 SAMPLE PUBLICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATION The Architects Guide ot Design-Build Services, edited by G. Williams Quatman II, FAIA, Esq., and Ranjit (Randy) Dhar, FRAIC (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003) Practice: Competence or Cost in Canadian Architect, June Architecture of Bhutan in DESIGN, December Presenter at the Design Excellence/Design-Build International Conference, International Conference (London, UK, September 27-29, 2007) American Institute of Architects Third International Conference on Courthouse Design (TICCD): Special Design Symposium Civic Architecture and Timeless Quality, (Toronto, Ontario, September 09-12, 1998) Promoting Excellence in the Architecture of Justice Facilities and Public Facilities Juror for the AIA Justice Facilities Review, , and Catalogue Retrospective of Courthouse Design Advocate for Promoting Best Practices and Excellence in Design-Build Projects, Daily Commercial News, various articles 5 P a g e