The Award of the Gold Medal of Distinction of the Institute of South African Architects to Evyind Niels Finsen is made by the National Board of the Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution through distinguishing service to the profession.

Eyvind Finsen was born in 1930 and obtained his degree in architecture at the University of Witwatersrand in 1952. In 1958 he attained a Diploma in Town Planning.

He joined the Institute of South Africa Architects in 1953 and the Royal Institute of British Architects later that same year. He worked for Nurcombe Summerly and Lange and R Spencer Parker & Anthony W Parker before commencing in private practice in February 1955.

Eyvind Finsen has practiced as an arbitrator for about thirty years and has conducted more than 170 arbitrations. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and its Chairman since its inceptions in 1979. He was elected a Life Member in 1989.

He is the author of “Quail on the Building Contract” (1989) and “The New Building Contract” (1991). He has written numerous papers and articles and delivered many lectures on aspects of building contracts, contractual disputes and arbitration. He is currently Chairman of the Convocation of the University of the Witwatersrand.

Eyvind Finsen’s initial involvement with Institute affairs began with his membership of the Provincial Committee of the Transvaal Institute of Architects from 1958 to 1973. He was elected President in 1968 and again in 1972.

He became a member of the Central Council’s Registration Committee in 1969 and subsequently of the South African Council’s Registration Committee on which he still serves.

He was a member of the first South African Council for Architects in 1971 and is currently its Vice-President and a member of its Education Advisory Committee.

Eyvind Finsen has had a long involvement with the Institute’s practice committees, starting with the RSI Committee and subsequently the ISAA Practice Committee. He has made a remarkable and distinguished contribution to the education of architects in the architect-in-training and mid-career courses offered by the Institute.

This Gold Medal of Distinction is awarded to Eyvind Finsen for his outstanding contribution to the profession through his dedicated service, erudition and specialized knowledge to improve the quality of architectural skills in this country.

June 1992 Johannesburg