A memorial service for Professor of Architecture Barry Fegan Will will be held at the University of Hong Kong today, 9 October. Barry, who died at 74, was a big, bluff, bearded character who drove a little Lotus and laughed a lot. One of his many accomplishments was acting as Grandmaster of the Hong Kong Hash House Harriers for a year. Below is a message of appreciation for the life of Barry Will by the current Dean of Architecture, Chris Webster.
Dear Students, Colleagues and Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Professor Barry Fegan Will, who served as Dean of the Architecture Faculty (1990-1998), on 29 August 2019 at the age of 74.
Born in Australia on 14 May 1945, Professor Will attended the University of Queensland and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Urban Studies.
Professor Will was an instrumental figure in building up the Faculty of Architecture of The University of Hong Kong in its early days. In 1971, he joined the Department of Architecture as a Lecturer and contributed to the formation of the then school of architecture and subsequently the Faculty of Architecture, separating architecture from engineering at the University. He was also significant for establishing the planning and urban design disciplines in the 1970s and 1980s within the school.
Professor Will served as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture from 1990 to 1998. Under his leadership, the BArch course was reformulated into a new BA(AS) and MArch curriculum, enabling students to specialise in diverse areas of architecture. Student design competitions became an integral part of the programme and the awards won by the students in subsequent years were unprecedented. Thereafter, Professor Will continued to be actively involved in architectural education as both an Adjunct Professor and an Honorary Professor at the Department of Architecture.
In addition to his commitment to education, Professor Will has made significant contributions to the architecture community as President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (1999-2000) and Chairman of Architects Registration Board (1991-1992). His public duties included service as co-opted member of the Planning Development Conservation Committee of the Urban Renewal Authority (2001-2008) and as Chairman of the Authorized Person Registration Committee (2001-2003).
Professor Will will be dearly missed and remembered as an outstanding teacher and a great mentor to several generations of architects. With deepest sorrow, please join us to extend our condolences to his family.
Sincerely,
Professor Chris Webster
Dean of the Faculty of Architecture
Chair Professor in Urban Planning and Development Economics
The University of Hong Kong
A memorial service will be held for Professor Will in commemoration of his life-long service to the University and the architectural profession.
Date: 9 October 2019 (Wednesday)
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Loke Yew Hall, The University of Hong Kong.
Registration for the memorial service can be found at https://www.arch.hku.hk/in-memory-of-professor-barry-fegan-will/
Donations in Barry’s memory may be made to a fund for student advancement at the architectural faculty that can be accessed at www.giving.hku.hk/donatenow/barrywill
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