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Staff Profile

Dr Dhruv Sookhoo

Visiting Lecturer

  • Address: School of Architecture Planning and Landscape
    Fourth Floor
    Daysh Building
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Background

Dhruv is a chartered architect (RIBA), chartered town planner (MRTPI) and recognised university educator (FHEA), and Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urbanism at Manchester School of Architecture. He is Visiting Lecturer in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, where he completed professionally-accredited degrees in architecture and planning, and later a PhD examining the social practices adopted by architects to negotiate housing quality during development management (NINE ESRC funded doctoral studentship). As a Visiting Lecturer within the School, Dhruv regularly contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching across architecture, planning and urban design programmes, reflecting his expertise in practice development in industry, and a developing research agenda associated with the socialisation of architects and planner in practice, the promotion of housing design quality within developing organisations, and design-led, participatory approaches for effective collaboration between practitioners and communities. He currently serves an Examiner and UK Adaption Assessor for the Architects Registration Board (2018-), an Assessor for the RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence (L-APC and DA-APC) (2019-) and RTPI Degree Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (2022-), a Professional Examiner for the PGDip Architectural Practice and Management (Part 3) at Newcastle University, and a Dissertation Supervisor for the Masters of Urban Design at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff (2022-).


Dhruv was Head of Research and Practice Innovation, at Metropolitan Workshop, an award-winning practice of architects, urban planners and urban designers delivering complex public and private sector projects from their bases in London and Dublin (2019-2021). This appointment followed an extended research residency coinciding with funded doctoral research through NINE DTP (2015-2019). Before commencing full-time research, he was Design Manager and then Head of Design, Home Group (2011-2015), a large developing housing association, where he was responsible for establishing the design department and championing better residential design quality across a national housing and regeneration programme through the commissioning of leading architects and designers, effective design management, design review and community engagement.

Dhruv is the past Chair of the influential RIBA Housing Group (2019-2021), member of RIBA Practice and Profession Committee (2019-2021), and an alumnus of Future of London's London Leadership Programme (2011-2012). He was design advisor to the recent Newcastle City Futures: People, Place, Change exhibition and event series, for which he received the RTPI North East Chair’s 2015 Planning Excellence Award for Placemaking through Innovation, alongside Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones (Director of Newcastle City Futures). 


Dhruv tweets as: @DhruvSookhoo


Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Architects Authoring Housing Quality through Development Management: The Legacy of Professional Divergence between Architects and Planners after 1945. (ESRC Doctoral Studentship funded through NINE DTP, awarded by the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University).  
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice (Higher Education Academy, Descriptor 2 recognised), University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
  • Newcastle Teaching Award (Higher Education Academy, Descriptor 1),
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Research Training (ESRC recognised), University of Newcastle upon Tyne (part-time),
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Architectural Practice and Management (Part 3 ARB/ RIBA), University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
  • Masters of Science in Town Planning with Distinction, University of Newcastle upon Tyne (RTPI-accredited; part-time),
  • Bachelor of Architecture with Honours (Part 2 ARB/ RIBA), University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
  • Certificate in Architectural Practice with Distinction, University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
  • Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies with Honours (Part 1 ARB/RIBA), University of Newcastle upon Tyne.


Professional Memberships

  • Registered Architect, Architects Registration Board,
  • Chartered Architect, Royal Institute of British Architects,
  • Chartered Town Planner, Royal Town Planning Institute,
  • Fellow, Higher Education Academy.
Research

Doctoral Research

Awarded Economic and Social Research Council funding through the North East Doctoral Training Centre (now NINE DTP) to complete my doctoral research on a full-time basis. My project explores the formation of perspectives on residential design quality among architects and town planners.


Practice-Based Research

Founded and led Metropolitan Workshop's research programme as the practice's first Head of Research and Practice Innovation. Outputs included its annual research projects: A New Kind of Suburbia (2019-2020) and People Powered Places (2020-2022, with Ava Lynam, TU Berlin)

Other roles and responsibilities:

Professional Groups

  • Professional Examiner (RIBA Part 3), Architectural Practice and Management Postgraduate Diploma, Newcastle University (2021-)
  • Examiner/ Lead Examiner, Prescribed Examination Panel, Architects Registration Board (2018-),
  • Assessor, RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence for L-APC (2019-), and new DA-APC Written Submission (Degree Apprenticeship End Point Assessment, 2022).
  • RTPI North East Regional Policy Sub-Committee (2009-).
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group, Building for 2050 (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, 2021-2022),
  • Governing Council, National House Building Council (NHBC, 2019-2022),
  • Chair, RIBA Housing Expert Advisory Group (2019-2021),
  • Chair, National Design Training Group (2020-2021),
  • Pilot Group/ Consulting Member, Social Value Toolkit for Architecture (RIBA/ Reading University, 2020),
  • Member, RIBA Practice and Profession Committee (2019-2021),
  • Consultative Group Member to RIBA Ethics and Sustainable Development Commission (2018-2019),
  • RIBA Journal Litmus Group (2017-2020),
  • RIBA Research and Innovation Group (2017, liaison, year of housing research theme)
  • RIBA Housing Group (2014-2019),
  • RIBA Educational Trust Fund Committee (2007-2009),
  • RIBA North East Council (2003-2009).


Design Governance

  • Panel Member, Oxford Design Review Panel (Oxford City Council/ Design South East, 2020-);
  • Design Review Panel Member (designe, 2020-).


 Awards Assessor

  • RIBA Awards, North East (2016 and 2013),
  • RIBA Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects Travel Award (jury member, 2008).


 Course Validation and Quality Assurance

  • Chair, RTPI Partnership Board, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin (2023-)
  • Vice Chair, RTPI Partnership Board, SEED, University of Manchester (2022-),
  • RTPI Accreditation Panel and Partnership Board (2017-).
  • Vice Chair, RTPI Partnership Board, Joint Distance Learning Consortia (JDLC), led by UWE Bristol in collaboration with the Open University, Leeds Beckett, London South Bank and Dundee University (2017-2021),
  • Undergraduate External Examiner Review Committee (HASS, Newcastle University, 2016/2017),
  • RIBA Visiting Board, The Bartlett, University College London (2007),
  • RIBA Visiting Board, Oxford Brookes University (2007),
  • RIBA Visiting Board, University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury (2006).


Invited Speaker

Selected:

  • RIBA Guerrilla Tactics 2021: Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Academia and Practice (RIBA, 2021)
  • RIBA Health and Safety (Mandatory Competency Test Webinar) (RIBA Academy, 2021)
  • Components of Good Design Codes and Guides (Code School, Urban Design London, 2021)
  • Making 21st Century Sustainable Communities (GEM Housing Programme hosed by Homes England, 2021)
  • Places, Spaces and Sociality: how can the built environment inspire social connection in our cities? (Future of London, 2020)
  • All Party Parliamentary Group for Healthy Homes and Buildings: Planning for Healthy Homes (TCPA/ UK Parliament, London, 2020)
  • Masterclass: Proactive Planning for Design Quality (Suffolk Design/ Design South East, Ipswich, 2019)
  • Launch of the 2017 RIBA President's Awards for Research (presenting doctoral research, RIBA, 2017)
  • Securing Quality through the Planning System: Getting Homes Built Event Series (Urban Design London, 2016),
  • RIBA Guerrilla Tactics: Client Perspectives (2015),
  • National Housing Federation: Housing Standards Conference (2015),
  • National Housing Federation Annual Conference (keynote, 2014),
  • Delivering Estate Renewal (Future of London, 2014),
  • Glass House Debates: Place Potential (2013).


Academic and Impact Advisory Board


 Reviewer and Contributor

  • Invited by Mae to review existing content and contribute new material to the new Housing Design Supplementary Planning Guidance (2019-), the Greater London Authority's successor document to the London Housing Design Guide. 
  • Invited by National Housing Federation to review the technical content of Housing Standards Handbook: A Good Practice Guide to Design Quality for Affordable Housing (Levitt Bernstein, 2016)
  • Invited by Urban Design London to contribute to The Design Companion for Planning and Placemaking (Urban Design London, 2017). 


Exhibitions

  • People, Powered, Places (with Ava Lynam, TU Berlin, Metropolitan Workshop, planned for 2022),
  • A New Kind of Suburbia (Metropolitan Workshop, 2019),
  • Newcastle City Futures Exhibition (Newcastle City Futures, 2014),
  • Reinvigorating the Region: Architecture 1945-1979 (RIBA North East Steering Group, 2010).


Teaching

Postgraduate

  • ARC7068: Service Delivery and Practice Management, Architectural Practice and Management PGDip (Part 3) (ARB/RIBA accredited) (contributor for Dr. John Kamara, 2021-)
  • ARC7069: Legal Framework and Building Procurement, Architectural Practice and Management PGDip (Part 3) (ARB/RIBA accredited) (contributor for Dr. John Kamara, 2021-)
  • ARC7070: Professional Development and Reflection (Case study, personal appraisal, PEDR, viva voce), Architectural Practice and Management PGDip (Part 3) (ARB/RIBA accredited) (contributor for Dr. John Kamara, 2021-).
  • TCP8091: Urban Design Principles and Practice, Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design (contributor for Prof. Tim Townshend, 2021/2022- present).
  • TCP8025: Linked Research Project, MPlan (RTPI / RICS Accredited) (contributor for Prof. Roger Burrows and Dr. Andrew Donaldson, 2020-2021).
  • ARC8117: Design Thesis Preparation/ Design Thesis, MSc Advanced Architectural Design: Architecture and Cities Pathway (sabbatical cover for Dr Martin Beattie, 2018-2019).
  • ARC8053/ARC8062: Dissertation, Master of Architecture (RIBA accredited) (supervisor for Dr Zeynep Kezer, 2016/2017).
  • TCP8934: Planning and Sustainability, MSc Town Planning (RTPI/ RICS accredited) (contributor with Dr Paola Gazzola, 2016/2017-2017/2018).
  • ARC8051: Tools for Thinking about Architecture, Master of Architecture (RIBA accredited) (contributor with Dr Zeynep Kezer and Dr Stephen Parnell, 2016/2017).
  • TCP8902: The Reflexive Practitioner, MSc Town Planning (RTPI/ RICS accredited) (contributor with Professor Geoff Vigar, 2015/2016-2017/2018).
  • TCP8003: Engaging with Information Sources in Planning, MSc Town Planning (RTPI accredited) (contributor with Maggie Roe, 2015/2016- 2016/2017)
  • ARC8069: Housing Alternatives, Masters of Urban Design (RTPI accredited) (contributor with Georgia Giannopoulou 2014-2020). 

Undergraduate

  • TCP1027: Shaping Towns and Cities, BA Urban Planning (RTPI accredited) (contributor for Prof. Tim Townshend, 2022/2023- present)
  • ARC3014: Professional Practice and Management, BA Architecture (Part 1, ARB/RIBA accredited) (assessor for Dr. John Kamara, 2021-2022-)
  • TCP2005: Housing Policy, Bachelor of Urban Planning (RTPI accredited) (contributor with Professor Rose Gilroy, 2017/2018-present)
  • APL2002: Alternative Practice: European Fieldtrip, Bachelor of Architecture and Urban Planning (fieldtrip lead and contributor with Dr Andrew Law, 2017/2018).
  • ARC2024: About Architecture, Cities, Cultures and Space, Bachelor of Architecture (RIBA accredited) (supervisor for dissertation elective, for Professor Katie Lloyd Thomas, 2017/2018-2018/2019)
  • ARC3060: Dissertation in Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (RIBA accredited) (supervisor for dissertation elective, for Professor Katie Lloyd Thomas, 2017/2018-2018/2019)
  • APL2001: Alternative Practice: Theories and Practice, Bachelor of Architecture and Urban Planning, (Semester 2 lead, with Dr Andy Law, 2014/2015-2016/2017).
  • APL2002: Alternative Practice: European Fieldtrip, Bachelor of Architecture and Urban Planning (contributor with Dr Andrew Law and Professor Prue Chiles, 2014/2015).
  • ARC1007: Architectural Design 1.1.: Urban Room for Tyneside, Bachelor of Architecture and Urban Design, (project leader, 2014/2015), this project resulted in a studio publication with launched by Sir Terry Farrell prepared with Cathy Houston, Collective Architecture, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
 
Publications