On the 24 November 2016, the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) conferred five Life Membership Awards*. One of the awards went to heritage icon Herbert Prins. Below is the citation that was read on the prestigious evening:
At the start of Herbert Prins’ career, he gained excellent experience both in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Between 1970 and 1996, he was Senior Lecturer at the Department of Architecture at the University of the Witwatersrand and Head of Department at various times during this period.
Herbert Prins has been actively involved in a number of committees which benefit architects, including the South African Council for Architects, the National Monuments Council, the Provincial Heritage Resources Agency; Gauteng; President of the Transvaal Institute of Architects in 1978 and 1979, President of the Institute of South African Architects from 1982 to 1983 and Chairman of the Rosebank Action Group, Acting Chairman of the Egoli Heritage Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Johannesburg Heritage Trust.
His interest in heritage has involved him in many projects, including consulting on the ongoing developments at Constitution Hill and the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication. He was awarded the gold medal of distinction of the South African Institute of Architects and the Gold Medal of the Simon van der Stel Foundation (now Heritage South Africa).
Thus SAIA salutes Herbert Prins for his long, distinguished, fruitful life as an eminent architect and landmark teacher. He is also highly regarded for his deep sense of architectural history and continuity. Herbert Prins has thus contributed richly to South Africa's architectural history and legacy, and for this, we proudly confer Life Membership on him.
Herbert Prins (The Heritage Portal)
* The others were Robert Ian Bruce Alexander, Hassan Mia Asmal, Eugene Vaughan Barnard, Patricia Marjorie Emmett
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