The University of Cyprus announces the inclusion of the Archive of the first Cypriot Structural Engineer Stavros Ioannides in its rich collection of historical archives, thanks to the valuable donation of Mrs. Beverley Patricia Ioannides, wife of the late Stavros Ioannides.

The signing ceremony of the Donation Agreement took place on Monday, March 4, 2025 in the presence of members and friends of the Ioannides family and members of the university community.

The object of the Donation Agreement, which was signed by the Rector and the donor, is the cooperation between the two parties for the use, recording, digitization, digital processing, storage, preservation and further disposal of this unique archive -which concerns the modern architectural heritage of the modern movement- for historical, educational, teaching and research purposes. The use of the archival material is intended to promote the building and architectural wealth that is currently in obscurity, through activities such as educational programmes and the organisation of exhibitions. This archive, which covers the period 1962-2024 and the activities of its creator Stavros Ioannides as a Civil Engineer, includes a multitude of structures, mainly in the districts of Nicosia and Famagusta, which were built in the mid-20th century, with great architectural, historical and social significance. In particular, it includes, among other things, some of the first high-rise buildings, ministries, hotels in the enclosed area of Varosha, drawings, calculations of reinforcements, engineering books and other important material from his political activity as one of the founding members of the EDEK.

The Rector, Professor Tasos Christofides, after welcoming Mrs.Ioannidou and her family to the University, thanked them warmly for the donation of the historical archive to the University of Cyprus and expressed the satisfaction of the institution for their decision to entrust this unique archive to the University of Cyprus. In conclusion, he underlined the particular importance of this donation, as it constitutes a treasure trove of knowledge on the history of architecture in Cyprus, while assuring that it will be preserved and used by the University of Cyprus in the best possible way for the benefit of future generations of Cypriots.

The donor, Mrs Ioannidou, in her brief message, thanked the University for accepting the donation and referred, among other things, to the personality and pioneering work of the renowned civil engineer in the field of construction and architecture in Cyprus and other regions, while she noted that the archive, as part of the architectural history and cultural heritage of Cyprus, will be a valuable source of inspiration and guidance for future generations.

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Marina Neofytou expressed her grateful thanks to the family for donating this unique archive of historical value to the University, stating that this archive will inevitably play a central role in the preservation and promotion of the history of the science of civil engineering and architecture of the island, as well as in the cultivation of historical consciousness of the young scientists of the Faculty of Engineering and its visitors. The President of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Associate Professor Dimitrios Loukidis, added that the housing of the physical archive in the new modern facilities of the Department and the School, which will soon be completed, is a great honour for the University, while it will also enhance the Department’s contribution to the work for the conservation and protection of the cultural buildings and infrastructure included in the archive.

On behalf of the Information Centre-Library “Stelios Ioannou”, the Director, Mrs.Elena Diomidis-Parpouna, thanked the donor for the decision of the Ioannidis family to entrust the archive to the University of Cyprus, assuring that this unique archive will be recorded, digitized and preserved by the Library, so that it will be available for use by the public of the Centre.

The physical “Stavros Ioannides Archive” will be housed in the new premises of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Cyprus and only authorised persons and officials will have access to it. Its electronic form and content will be accessible to all and will be available to the public for information and study both through computers installed in selected areas of the University, such as the Library and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and through electronic digital libraries, such as the European Digital Library and other types of electronic collections, as the archive constitutes important material for the promotion of the cultural heritage of Cyprus.

Stavros Ioannides-Bio

Stavros Ioannides was born on 22 November 1933 in Psimolofos and passed away on 29 December 2023. During his school years (1946-1952) he studied at the Pancyprian Gymnasium with a scholarship. After high school, he worked at the Amyantou mine, where he met the important architect of the Modern Movement in Cyprus, Stavros Economou, with whom he collaborated on many projects. He then left to study in England on a scholarship from the Cyprus Government. He obtained a degree in Structural Engineering from Cardiff, University of South Wales, with many awards during his studies. In 1961 he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Structural Engineering from London Hammersmith School, with an award for outstanding achievement and for the design of a motorway bridge.

Stavros Ioannides has worked on private and public projects, with his portfolio including hydroelectric power stations, water supply systems, roads, bridges and industrial buildings in England, Iraq and Cyprus. He has been a member of many institutes, associations and organisations related to civil engineering in England, France, America and Cyprus, and was a founding member and first president of the Cyprus Civil Engineers Association (CPCO).