Tributes paid to designer of the Millennium Bridge
THE award-winning artist and architect who created the River Tyne’s iconic Millennium Bridge has died at 76.
Chris Wilkinson, who was the co-founder of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, passed away on December 14, leaving behind a glorious legacy of magnificent landmarks.
The Amersham-born architect left his best-known mark on the region when, on September 17, 2001, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge opened.
Wilkinson Eyre announced Mr Wilkinson’s death with “deep sadness”, while Gateshead Council posted on social media: “We are sad to hear this news.
“Chris has a special place in Gateshead history as one of the designers of our iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
“Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”
Mr Wilkinson was given an OBE in the Millennium honours list, and he was also an honorary fellow of the American Institute of Architecture, reflecting his hard work and dedication to improving urban landscapes around the world.
His firm Chris Wilkinson Architects was founded in 1983, before becoming Wilkinson Eyre in 1999, to acknowledge his partnership with Jim Eyre.
The firm was the first practice to win the prestigious Stirling Prize twice, with back-to-back awards for the Magna Science Centre in Rotherham (2001) and Millennium Bridge (2002).
The Millennium Bridge was tilted on the evening of September 17 this year to mark the 20-year anniversary of it opening to the general public.
It was carefully lowered into place on November 20, 2000, after a breath-taking journey down the river, borne by the world’s largest floating crane.