GARY TURTON
BOATT, MTTIA, M. Arch, B.P.S.(Arch)
Director, ACLA Works
Gary was born in Trinidad and Tobago and received his Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Professional Studies in Architecture degrees at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Gary worked as a graduate architect in New York City for large architectural practices such as Kohn Pederson Fox and Perkins Eastman until becoming a licensed architect in New York State and subsequently a member of the American Institute of Architects.
Gary returned to Trinidad in 1996 and became a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects (TTIA) and registered Architect with Board of Architecture of Trinidad and Tobago. He practiced as a sole trader to continue the architectural work of his cousin, the late Roger Turton, responsible for the design of several private homes and developments including Villa Being in Tobago, Rainbow Hill in Goodwood Park and Moon Over Bourbon Street. He also won first prize in a competition to design a model affordable house for the Ministry of Housing, which was co-sponsored by the TTIA.
In 2001, Gary merged his practice, Turton Architects, with 2 other practices including Anthony C Lewis Associates and formed acla:works ltd. as director and shareholder. This new practice’s vision is to provide innovative architecture for discerning clients. The mission is to be the prominent architectural firm in the Caribbean by 2020 in terms of image, perception, service level and delivery and has won several awards over the years. acla:works has been responsible for the design of a number of public and private projects including the BG building in St Clair, Citibank HQ Queens Park East, Republic Bank’s new Trincity and Gulf View prototype branches, the current Office of the Prime Minister in St. Clair and the Twin Towers. Gary is the Chief Marketing Officer for acla:works as well as principal-in-charge of several projects. acla:works has established strategic partnerships with architects in the Caribbean Region, the US, UK, as well as China in its focus on professional services export. Gary has advanced the firm’s expertise in building information modeling (BIM) through training, practice and attending conferences including one at the firm’s software company’s (Graphisoft) headquarters in Budapest, which attracted architects, engineers, project managers and contractors from around the globe.
Gary also plays an active role in the profession and served as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects (TTIA) between 2008 and 2010, during which time the TTIA was involved with the Commission of Enquiry into the construction sector and the practices of Udecott. He currently serves on the executive board of the TTIA as immediate Past President and chair of the Website Committee. Gary served as a director of the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of the Services Industries (TTCSI) between 2008 and 2010, where he contributed to Services Week workshops for the architectural services sector on the Economic Partnership Agreement, the upcoming Caricom Canada Trade Agreement and meetings with the Ministry of Trade. Gary is also currently a member the Caribbean Architects Mutual Recognition Agreement Committee (CAMRAC) as a representative of the Association of Caribbean Societies of Architects in the Caribbean (ACSAC) whose purpose it to pursue the execution of a mutual recognition agreement between EU architects from and CARIFORUM (CARICOM + Dom. Rep. and Haiti).