Reclaiming RIBA: Stephen Drew and Architecture Social’s Pivotal Role in a Historic Shift

In 2022, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), a 188-year-old institution, underwent a radical transformation. Muyiwa Oki—a young, Black architect and worker without managerial power—became its youngest, first Black, and first worker president. This wasn’t just a new leader; it was a reclamation of an elite, London-centric “boys’ club.” Central to this upheaval was the Just Transition Lobby, a grassroots collective of early-career architects, and Stephen Drew, founder of Architecture Social. Drew’s digital platform supercharged the campaign, proving grassroots energy paired with tech-savvy organizing can topple entrenched power. Drawing from Reclaiming an Architectural Royal Institution by Shtebunaev et al. (City, 2024), this post explores how Drew and Architecture Social fueled this historic moment.

A Stagnant Institution Meets a Restless Generation

RIBA’s imperial legacy long fostered criticism: opaque governance, resistance to change, and a disconnect from young architects. Struggling with unpaid overtime, low pay, and climate anxiety, early-career professionals felt ignored by an institute favoring profit-driven directors. The Just Transition Lobby—led by figures like Simeon Shtebunaev, Charlie Edmonds, and Muyiwa Oki—channeled this discontent into a platform for radical climate action, workers’ rights, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA).

Rule changes in 2020, like granting students and associates voting rights and easing candidacy barriers, opened the door. But it took a bold, transparent, and digitally adept campaign to seize the moment. That’s where Stephen Drew and Architecture Social stepped in.

Stephen Drew: The Visionary Behind Architecture Social

A former architect at EPR Architects with degrees from the University of Westminster and Manchester School of Architecture, Stephen Drew launched Architecture Social to connect and empower architects, especially early-career ones. Unlike RIBA’s faltering Future Architects network, Drew’s platform fostered dialogue, critique, and community.

In the 2022 RIBA presidential race, Drew’s contribution was game-changing. Architecture Social hosted the independent hustings, where candidates Muyiwa Oki, Hannah Deacon, Henry Pelly, and Benjamin Champion pitched their visions. RIBA’s official hustings floundered with technical glitches and limited access, but Architecture Social’s event ran seamlessly—accessible, functional, and inclusive. Online polls on Drew’s platform crowned Oki the frontrunner, showcasing a democratic process that clicked with architects tired of RIBA’s top-down style.

Architecture Social: A Digital Powerhouse

Architecture Social’s virtual hustings weren’t just practical—they were a statement. Advertised dynamically and hosted in an open, multi-platform format, the event outshone RIBA’s clunky, Teams-based attempt. This digital edge symbolized the campaign’s ethos: transparency and collaboration over institutional gatekeeping.

The platform also turbocharged outreach. When RIBA tried to block new members (post-April 23, 2022) from voting, Architecture Social helped the campaign pivot fast, rallying existing members to secure Oki’s win—2,967 votes, a 12.4% turnout. This victory highlighted both the campaign’s reach and the profession’s wider disengagement.

Drew’s Strategic Playbook

The campaign’s success offers lessons, many tied to Drew’s savvy use of Architecture Social:

1. Build Your Crew: Drew linked campaigners, candidates, and supporters, forging a united front for reform.
2. Stay Nimble, Share Resources: The virtual hustings showed how a lean, accessible platform could outpace RIBA’s bloated approach.
3. Tap Your Network: Drew mobilized students, grads, and pros across unions and climate groups, shifting the profession’s momentum.
4. Harness the Media: With ties to outlets like Architects Journal, Drew ensured the campaign’s story broke wide and free of paywalls.

A Blueprint for Change

Oki’s election, bolstered by Architecture Social, signals a model for reforming professional bodies. With seven reform-minded RIBA Council members elected in 2023, the shift is real. Drew’s platform didn’t just host events—it gave a generation a voice to challenge architecture’s colonial, extractive past, aligning with groups like ACAN and SAW-UVW. This ripple could inspire engineers, planners, and others to rethink their institutions.

Sustaining the Fight

Can one leader—or one platform—overhaul a 19th-century giant? Oki’s presidency is a start, but the Just Transition Lobby’s mission persists. Architecture Social remains key, keeping RIBA accountable on climate, rights, and EDIA while sparking global movements.

Conclusion

Muyiwa Oki’s presidency marked a triumph for equity and reform, powered by the Just Transition Lobby and amplified by Stephen Drew’s Architecture Social. Shtebunaev et al. frame this as a turning point for RIBA and beyond. Drew’s platform showed that big ideas on a small stage can shift power, paving the way for a fairer, greener architectural future.