People

Essex graduate's design to replace twin towers

A design by internationally renowned architect and former University of Essex student Daniel Libeskind has been chosen for the World Trade Center site in New York.

The former Art History student's dramatic complex of angular towers, and a spire that would be among the world's tallest structures, beat eight other entrants in an international architecture competition.

Professor Libeskind's design retains a seven-acre section of the hole where the twin towers once stood as a memorial to the victims of September 11.

Recent designs by the Berlin-based architect include the Northern Imperial War Museum in Manchester and the Jewish Museum in Berlin.

Professor of Art History Jules Lubbock said: 'Daniel Libeskind is the outstanding modern architect of his generation and the Department is immensely proud of this extraordinary achievement.

'His buildings communicate powerful feelings about the terrible events of the last century, such as the holocaust, and this new monument will undoubtedly match that achievement.'

Daniel Libeskind studied at the University under Joseph Rykwert and Dalibor Vesely, and was awarded an MA in the History and Theory of Architecture in 1972. In 1999 he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University.

As well as heading his own architectural studio, he is also a professor at the University of California and the Zentrum fur Kunst und Medientechnologie, Karlusche. He has held posts in numerous institutions, including the John Paul Getty Centre, at Harvard, the Royal Danish Academy of Art, the University of London and at Yale.

Row, row, row your boat…

Thanks to generous support the University's rowing club have been able to purchase their first new boat for four years.

Computer company Dell, the Vice-Chancellor and the Sports Federation all gave generously enabling to club to buy an eight-man boat which as team treasurer, Jane Kim explained, will be an invaluable asset to the team: 'The eight is essential to our progress as a club because it is considered to be rowing's 'blue-ribbon' event and is the most popular. The eight is often the easiest competition to qualify and although we will only be able to race in eight only events, these often provide the best opportunity for small clubs to be successful. There is also a university league where eights challenge each other, which until now we have not been able to take part in.'

The rowing club was first set up seven years ago and currently has 25 members. A group from the club competed at the British Indoor Rowing Championships in November, with most beating their personal best times. Jane explained how the club hopes to use the new boat to build upon this success: 'Without the purchase of the eight, we would not be able to race or train properly - or even at all. The boat will also help us attract new members and hopefully some experienced rowers.'

The Club hopes to take the boat to the British Universities Sporting Assocuation (BUSA) Regatta at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham in May to compete in the heavyweight novice men's eight category. The Club will also be competing in the heavyweight novice men's coxed four, heavyweight novice women's coxed four, lightweight women's double or pair, lightweight men's double or pair, and novice men's single scull at the competition. The men's team are also in training for the qualifying competition for the Temple Cup (university eight's event) at the Henley Royal Regatta.

If you would like to find out more about the club contact Jon Mackinney, Men's Captain, e-mail jmmack@essex.ac.uk or Annika Tibblin, Women's Captain, e-mail actibb@essex.ac.uk.

Also in the printed March edition of Wyvern:

• Honorary graduands announced
• Chief constable is alumnus of the year