Investing in emerging talent
A strong belief in the value of education has led John McAslan + Partners to establish bursaries in both the UK and the United States, focused on empowering the next generation of designers. In 2004 the practice founded the RIBA McAslan Bursary, created to support emerging architectural and engineering talent in developing original projects that deliver tangible benefits for communities in the UK and internationally. The bursary provides funding, mentorship and professional backing, enabling recipients to test ideas beyond conventional academic or commercial constraints.
Client: Royal Institute of British Architects / Institution of Civil Engineers
Dates: 2004—
Sponsor:
John McAslan + Partners
Community-led impact
To date, the RIBA McAslan Bursary has supported 16 successful projects by students and graduates, spanning locations from Southend-on-Sea to Nairobi, and from Buckinghamshire to rural Transylvania. The scope of these initiatives is deliberately broad, reflecting the social responsibility of the profession. Projects have addressed innovative housing models, ageing populations, disaster reconstruction, biodiversity, and the preservation of vernacular architecture, often working directly with local communities to co-produce meaningful and lasting outcomes.
Extending the social role of architecture
These bursaries sit within a wider ethos that views architecture as a public service as well as a design discipline. From the early establishment of a charitable trust in the late 1990s, the practice has sought to extend architectural expertise into contexts where resources are limited but social need is acute. The bursary projects provide space for experimentation, collaboration and slower, more reflective modes of practice, allowing new approaches to emerge that can later inform larger-scale work.
International exchange and education
This commitment was extended internationally through the creation of the AIA/McAslan Fellowship, a three-year travel bursary programme for graduate architects from US universities. Established through a partnership with the Architects Foundation, the fellowship supports research-led travel and investigation, investing in designers who are motivated to make a positive global impact through architecture and urbanism.
A platform for future practice
Together, these bursaries foster networks of solidarity across generations and geographies, helping young practitioners navigate the early stages of their careers while encouraging alternative models of practice rooted in social engagement. Many recipients have gone on to work in education, advocacy, community-led design and public policy, demonstrating how targeted support can amplify the wider social impact of architecture and expand the tools through which meaningful change is delivered.
