As a part of its 60-year celebration BSRIA has held a reception at the House of Lords.

The event was hosted by Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan, a previous chairman, and attended by representatives from more than 100 of BSRIA’s member organisations.

Lord O’Neill, with current BSRIA chairman, Tom Smith, presented a commemorative plaque to the representatives of the 22 companies who were the founding members of BSRIA and have retained their membership of BSRIA for 60 years. 

BSRIA chief executive Julia Evans said: “For 60 years BSRIA has provided leadership for the industry, developed people and skills, promoted the advancement of the industry, smart technology and its introduction to deliver a sustainable future, allowing BSRIA to deliver on our mission of making buildings better.

“Over the last 60 years BSRIA has evolved to now have offices in France, Spain, United States and China and undertake a wide range of different activities - a heritage we should be rightly proud of - but I know that the Association Members and the BSRIA team care passionately about improving our industry and will continue to work together to lead the industry through the challenges of the next 60 years.”

During his opening Lord O’Neill commented that BSRIA’s success for the last 60 years has been in part because of its collaboration with different industry stakeholders. He told attendees that through the introduction of BIM the rest of the construction industry now needs to adopt an engaged attitude to collaboration - a view well received by the BSRIA members present.