Wits Architecture 1982

Well, yesterday was a very sad day...I was shocked to discover that two of my dear Wits Architecture friends have died. My friend, Hazel (Tatham) Cutherbertson died this past March, and Haroon Joosub, died in January 2024.

We all started Architecture at Wits together in 1977 and became good friends, staying in contact over the years.

Around 1979 Hazel decided not to continue with architecture and moved into art. She did an MA then a PhD in Art History. Haroon graduated with me as an architect and practiced in the Johannesburg region.

The last time I saw them was on my last visit to SA in 2012. We had a wonderful reunion and these pics are from back then.

I just came across an old photo from my graduation on 15 December, 1892. This is Herbert Prins with me at the celebration afterwards held in Senate House. Herbert was my mentor for my dissertation project and he died in South Africa in 2020.

Last night, 40 years ago, was a VERY happy time for the few of us, about 12 from our original class of 60, who made it through all six years successfully. We graduated from Wits with our B. Arch Degrees and, along the way, caught up with others who graduated with us as well. Here are a few photos of mine from back then.

Since starting this page years ago in the hopes of finding some class mates and seeing what they have done, unfortunately, almost none have found it and there has been no participation. I leave it up in case someone does but, not much luck so far. I would love to know where some of my former classmates went with their careers, if they remained in the architectural profession and what they did.

I just made a nice discovery working on tidying up my study and throwing out old books and computer software manuals. This is a booklet produced by the Department of Architecture at Wits at the end of my first year in 1977. When I have a chance, I’ll scan and post the whole thing.

For many decades we bought software on a perpetual license and bought upgrades IF the vendor came up with worthwhile improvements. Many, however, have moved onto the "subscription-only" gravy train and are attempting to force their clients onto subscriptions. I and thousands of other professionals are not happy with that and I wrote an article on Linked In about it.

Alan Roberts on LinkedIn: #software #maintenance #softwaremaintenance | 14 comments Two software maintenance agreements I've paid for decades are over this year, not by my choice... ... 14 comments on LinkedIn

Alan graduated from Wits Architecture in 1982 and retired after a long career as a principal in a very successful Northeast Texas practice.

Some local news:

One of our members was granted "Emeritus” status today. Alan Roberts, AIA, has been an active and continuous member of the Northeast Texas Chapter for 28 years and has won two AIA Design Awards for his work. He was born in Zimbabwe and did his architectural degree in South Africa where he graduated in 1982. He practiced there for 5 years then accepted an opportunity to study for a second degree in the USA. Upon graduation in 1991, he was offered a job as an architect in Texas which he accepted, joining the chapter in 1992 and becoming a citizen in 2002.

Alan served the chapter for many years as a member and as Secretary Treasurer, Vice President, President, Past President, Web and Social Media Master, Newsletter Producer, Photographer at chapter events, spoke three times at the annual Texas Society of Architects Convention and, also served two consecutive terms on the Board of the Texas Society of Architects as the Director of Northeast Texas, and on a number of committees.

Always interested in promoting the profession of architecture and helping those interested in it, Alan has been a frequent guest speaker at high schools in the Northeast Texas region, as well as in Columbia Maryland and, a frequent guest of the Engineering program at Tyler Junior College (attached photo). In this vein, he created the page “So you want to be an Architect” way back in 2014 and later, the Instagram feed, “” where he interacts with anyone on the planet, answering questions about being an architect from the USA, East and Western Europe, Africa, India, Australasia, etc. explaining and showing them what a regular architect does at work.

Alan says it feels a bit strange reaching Emeritus status and being retired for 5 years already as principal from a very successful Northeast Texas practice. He is keeping busy doing a lot more photography, (for which he has won several awards) traveling and maintaining his architectural Facebook and Instagram feeds. He is also a member of the East Texas Camera Club and a life member of the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum in Tyler where he does volunteer work and teaches each year at the summer camp for young people interested in flying.

Just a thought - since we have so much time on our hands: If any of you have children or nieces and nephews perhaps interested in a career in architecture and wonder what an architect does, I have a FB page where, for almost 6 years now, I show and tell what I'm doing in an attempt to help anyone interested in the career. Many of the architect pages I see are merely promo's for their companies whereas on mine, I'm not pushing anything. Also most people only think of famous architects who do major buildings and my goal is to show what I do as an ordinary architect in East Texas. Few people understand all that an architect does, most think we just "draw plans" and, since few it seems personally know architects, I started this page in an attempt to help. I've even met architecture students who started the degree having absolutely no clue as to what the career actually involved. I've answered questions from around the world, even from a young guy in Harare who was amazed that I came from Bulawayo. I'm semi-retired now so it's a bit more difficult adding a lot to the page but I keep it up so far with the part-time consulting work I do and show some of my past projects. If you have anyone seriously interested in the career, they are welcome to contact me. I don't sugar-coat it and will give my realistic opinions based on my experience. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/becomeanarchitect/

So You Want to be an Architect? As an architect I created this page in 2014, to help anyone interested in the profession. As of December 31, 2015 I was bought out by my former company and retired from architectural practice.

Two Wits architects together in Sydney at the moment. Alex and I became friends in our first year at Wits in 1977 and have stayed in touch over the decades. During our studies he met and married Maureen and they invited me to spend a few days with them in Sydney on my way back to the USA.

Here's a very successful project I designed for Lindale High School a few years ago, the 1,200 seat Performing Arts Center. It is in HD so, if you have the bandwidth and activate that, you will have a better image.

2019-07-25 Lindale HS Performing Arts Center I'm learning about video editing and put together a short video here of the 1,200 seat Performing Arts Center I designed for Lindale High School a few years ...

I visited a project last week designed by a friend. Here's a short video I made of the site visit. This is viewable in HD too.

2019-08-22 Construction Site Visit I went out last week to visit the construction site at the Lake Fork Baptist Church. The project was designed by an architect friend of mine, Mike Butler, of...