QUEEN'S GRADUATE SCOOPS TOP EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE AWARD 
02 June 2017
Johann Muldoon, a 1999 Queen’s BSc (Architecture) graduate, Managing Partner of the Moneymore based Manor Architects in Co Londonderry, headed off stiff competition from 300 of her peers across 10 countries to claim the prestigious accolade of Best Woman Architect in Europe at the Women in Construction and Engineering (WICE) Awards in London (24 May).
An award-winning architect, conservation architect and business person, Johann has extensive experience of delivering complex and challenging projects in all sectors at all scales. The WICE Best Woman Architect in Europe is her latest success; in April one of Johann’s projects was shortlisted for the worldwide Architectural Review Future Projects Awards.
"Winning this award is not only a momentous occasion for me in my career, but gives me a fantastic platform to promote my passion for the role of females in architecture and the substantial contribution they can make to the economy and built environment,” said Johann.
“Women are seriously underrepresented, particularly at senior levels in practices throughout Europe but as a female running a successful firm, as well as being a farmer’s wife and mother to two young children, I believe that it is possible to have a flourishing career and a fulfilling family life.
As well as being a 1st Class Queen’s graduate and winning the Andrew Forester Award for Top Student in her year, Johann’s previous awards include the Sir Richard Branson Award for UK Young Entrepreneur (when she was 16), the RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect Royal and a Scottish Academy Architecture Prize.
She is also a past winner of two Silver Medals for Architecture – The City of Glasgow Medal and the RIAS Silver Medal – a recipient of the Merchants House Bursary and she has the distinction of being the youngest tutor at the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow. Mid Ulster Business Person of the Year in 2012 and 2015, Manor Architects was SME of the Year 2016.
Having submitted an entry for this latest Award, Johann had to undergo a rigorous selection process in London before being shortlisted for the Final in the Hilton London Bankside on Wednesday 24 May.
“The competition was a gruelling full day process of one-to-one interviews and presentations to both the judges and my peers,” explained Johann “but it was also a time of reflection; writing down what I have accomplished, the challenges, adversity, the thrill, the determination and the love I have for architecture.
“For me, it was an extremely valuable experience, not only on a personal level, but professionally to engage with world leaders within the construction industry, share their experiences, learn from their achievements and take counsel from their challenges.”
“The impact and the reality of winning will take some time to sink in. Unquestionably it is an experience and an accolade that I will carry with me for the remainder of my life. I am grateful to the people who have chosen me, who support and believe in me on this rollercoaster journey that is being a Woman Architect. I wouldn’t change any of it for an instant.”
For further details of Johann Muldoon’s award please contact Catriona Couston, tel: 07808 568 581. Find out more about Architecture at Queen’s here.
General inquiries to Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office; tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.
Photo credit: WICE (main) and Catriona Couston (insert).
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