Professor Mark Jarzombek from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology delivered the Widdess Lecture on Thursday, 11 March in the College as part of the anniversary to celebrate 200 years of the College on St Stephen’s Green.

He delivered his lecture on ‘Corridic Modernities – Space and Interiority in 19th and 20th Century Architecture’ and architectural historian Dr Patricia McCarthy gave an introductory lecture on the ‘Original Building of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’.

Professor Jarzombek is a Professor of the History and Theory of Architecture and the Associate Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning in Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to Professor Jarzombek, “The word corridor comes from the Latin courier which means to run, so a corridor is literally 'a running place'.” His lecture will chart the unusual history of town halls, parliament buildings and court houses to help us understand some of the important changes in architecture over the last three centuries.

Dr Patricia McCarthy works with the Office of Public Works as well as writing entries for the Royal Irish Academy’s Art and Architecture of Ireland. Her lecture on the ‘Original Building of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’ will look at the architectural history of the 1810 building.