Veteran Jamaican architect Errol Charles Alberga Jr was recently elected Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA).

Alberga was the only architect in the Caribbean to receive the prestigious recognition in the 2017 list which included 30 professionals from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, UK and USA.

“I am deeply humbled by this recognition, especially because it will help to improve the spotlight on architects in the Caribbean, especially Jamaica, which is blessed with some of the world’s best architects,” said Alberga who travelled to London earlier this year to accept the award.

The Royal Institute of British Architects is known to be a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally. It was founded for the advancement of architecture under its charter granted in 1837 and Supplemental Charter granted in 1971.

Election to this august body is regarded as a great distinction as the recipient must fulfil at least three of the five criteria — leadership in architecture; honour for significant contribution in architecture; contribution to the advancement of architecture through education, research and development; service to national, regional and international working groups; and significant contribution to initiatives and activities such as charity and community projects.

Alberga, a Kingston College old boy, fulfilled all five criteria.

Fellows of the RIBA should be ambassadors of the profession, a testament of what can be achieved by hard work, commitment and vision. They must have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate the importance of effecting and influencing change and pushing the boundaries that advance architecture.

Since graduating in 1973 and elected a member of the RIBA in 1974, Alberga’s work has not only been in his landmark architectural designs but more so in his contribution to the advancement of the profession in Jamaica, the education of architects, his research and development, contribution to national development, and his philanthropic pursuits.

Many of Alberga’s eye-catching and energy-saving architectural designs can be seen all over Jamaica such as the Courtleigh Corporate Centre; FLOW corporate office building; Marine Pilots building; National Forensic Laboratory; Blue Cross of Jamaica headquarters; the former JAMPRO office building; United General office building, now Advantage General Insurance Company; Bodle’s Agricultural Research Station; Stella Maris Pastoral Centre; and the Alberga Graham office building, to name a few.

He designed the monument for National Hero the Right Excellent Sir William Alexander Bustamante, and the museum at the birthplace of National Hero Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley.

Alberga’s creative and energy-saving styles and designs incorporating cut stone, local woods, old and new materials like glass and aluminium can be seen in public and office buildings, residences, court houses, hospitals, health centres, police stations, the Horizon Remand Centre, schools, laboratories, churches, embassies, industrial buildings, plazas, apartments, townhouses, tourism and hotel projects.

From his early years, dating back to Thames Polytechnic in England, Alberga had a special interest in the conservation of Jamaica’s architectural heritage as seen in his final year dissertation Georgian Architecture in Jamaica, The Development of a Vernacular Style (1972) and later in 1984, The Conservation of Jamaica’s Architectural Heritage. He has researched and published several papers such as; Cultural Tourism Innovation and Innovation and Insight, Future Trends for Architecture in Jamaica.

Alberga has served his profession with distinction and has, over the years, held several leadership positions, including president of the Jamaican Society of Architects, (1989-90) during which he piloted the change to the Jamaican Institute of Architects where he served as its first president from 1990-1991; chairman of the Joint Consultative Committee for the Building and Construction Industry in Jamaica 1980-82; chairman of the Architects Registration Board, 2002 -2008; and chairman of the Disciplinary Committee from 2014-present.

He was also integrally involved in establishing the Caribbean School of Architecture at the College of Arts, Science and Technology (now University of Technology, Jamaica) in 1988.

Alberga’s philanthropy and service to humanity are not only local but also regional. As a Rotarian he has demonstrated its motto “Service Above Self” in many ways, designing and supervising, pro bono, many building projects of the Rotary Club of St Andrew North since its inception in 1987, including a playing field and pavilion in Stony Hill. He also redesigned and renovated computer, physics and biology laboratories at Meadowbrook and Oberlin high schools, a recreation centre and classrooms at National Children’s Home, a workshop at the Society for the Blind, and renovated the library at the Early Childhood Centre at Shortwood Teachers’ College, to name a few.

As district governor of Rotary International for District 7020, Northern Caribbean, Alberga established a district project in Haiti — the upgrade, renovation and equipping of a secondary school of 2,800 students which the Government of Haiti has adopted as the model to be used for all future schools. He also coordinated aid from 540 Rotary districts worldwide to Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010.

It was also during his governorship that the US$3.2-million Operating Theatre Complex at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, involving District 7020, started.

For his significant contribution to architecture and community service he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government in 2016 and also the Silver Musgrave Medal for Outstanding Merit in Architecture in 2015.

He was also elected a Fellow of the Jamaican Institute of Architects in 2017.

People who know Alberga regard him as the epitome of humility, graciousness and a consummate family man with wife Leonie of 48 years, son Brian who is a civil/structural engineer, and daughter Tracy, an architect.

Jamaica Observer Executive Editor, Publications Vernon Davidson, himself a Kingston College old boy, who has been observing Alberga’s work, congratulated the highly acclaimed architect.

“By highlighting professionals like Errol with a broad spectrum of backgrounds and specialisms, benchmarks can be set for the future, and voices can be heard by members of the profession, who are addressing some of the huge challenges that are affecting modern society,” Davidson said.

— radleyreid@hotmail.com