The Archive of Stavros Ioannides, the first Cypriot Structural Engineer, donated to the University of Cyprus

The University of Cyprus announces the inclusion of the archive of the first Cypriot Structural Engineer, Stavros Ioannides, in the collections of the Faculty of Engineering, thanks to the generous donation of Mrs. Beverley Patricia Joannides, wife of the late Stavros Ioannides. The Donation Agreement Signing Ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the presence of members and friends of the Ioannides family, as well as members of the university community.

The Donation Agreement, signed by the Rector and the donor, formalizes the collaboration between the two parties for the use, documentation, digitization, digital processing, preservation, and public dissemination of this unique archive. The archive concerns the modern architectural heritage of Cyprus and will be utilized for historical, educational, instructional, and research purposes. Through this material, the aim is to highlight Cyprus’s architectural and structural legacy, much of which has remained under-recognized, through activities such as educational programs and exhibitions.

The archive, covering the period 1962–2024, reflects the professional activity of Stavros Ioannides as a Civil Engineer, and includes numerous structures, primarily in the districts of Nicosia and Famagusta, built in the mid-20th century, many of which are of great architectural, historical, and social significance. The archive includes, among other things, some of the first multi-story buildings, ministries, and hotels in the sealed-off area of Varosha, as well as designs, reinforcement calculations, engineering books, and important material related to his political involvement as a founding member of EDEK.

The Rector, Professor Tasos Christofides, warmly welcomed Mrs. Joannides and her family to the University and sincerely thanked them for donating this historically valuable archive. He expressed the University’s deep appreciation for entrusting this unique collection to the University of Cyprus. He emphasized the great importance of this donation, describing it as a treasure of knowledge for Cyprus’s architectural history, and assured that it would be preserved and utilized to the fullest for the benefit of future generations.

In her brief message, Mrs. Joannides thanked the University for accepting the donation and spoke about Mr. Ioannides’ visionary work in the fields of construction and architecture in Cyprus and beyond. She highlighted the significance of the archive as part of Cyprus’s architectural history and cultural heritage, calling it a valuable source of inspiration and guidance for future generations.

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Marina Neophytou, expressed her deep gratitude to the family for donating this historically significant archive to the University. She emphasized that this material will inevitably play a central role in preserving and highlighting the history of civil engineering and architecture in Cyprus, while also nurturing historical awareness among students and visitors of the Faculty.

The Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Associate Professor Dimitrios Loukidis, added that the archive’s physical storage in the Faculty’s new, modern facilities — soon to be completed — is a great honor for the University and will strengthen the Department’s efforts in the preservation of cultural buildings and infrastructure included in the archive.

On behalf of the Stelios Ioannou Learning Resource Centre – Library, Director Elena Diomidi-Parpouna thanked the donor and the Ioannides family for entrusting the archive to the University. She confirmed that the unique material will be catalogued, digitized, and preserved by the Library and made available to the public for educational and research use.

The physical archive of Stavros Ioannides will be housed in the new premises of the Faculty of Engineering, accessible only to authorized personnel and officials. Its digital version, however, will be publicly accessible, available for information and study through computers located at designated University locations — such as the Library and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering — and via online digital libraries, including the European Digital Library and other digital collections. The archive represents a significant resource for promoting Cyprus’s cultural heritage.

Biography of Stavros Ioannides

Stavros Ioannides was born on November 22, 1933, in Psimolofou and passed away on December 27, 2023. He attended the Pancyprian Gymnasium on a scholarship (1946–1952). After high school, he worked at the Amiandos mine, where he met the influential modernist architect Stavros Economou, with whom he later collaborated on many projects. He then pursued studies in England on a scholarship from the Cyprus Government.

He received his degree in Structural Engineering from Cardiff, University of South Wales, earning multiple awards during his studies. In 1961, he obtained a postgraduate diploma in Structural Engineering from the London Hammersmith School, winning a prize for outstanding performance and for designing a highway bridge.

Mr. Ioannides worked on both private and public projects, with a portfolio including hydroelectric power stations, water supply systems, roads, bridges, and industrial buildings in Cyprus, the UK, Iran, the Middle East, and North Africa. He was a member of numerous engineering institutes and associations in the UK, France, the USA, and Cyprus, and was a founding member and the first president of the Cyprus Association of Civil Engineers (SPOlMIK).

For more information on donations and alumni relations:
Office of University Development and Alumni Relations
📞 Tel.: +357 22894305 / 227
📧 Email: alumni@ucy.ac.cy
🌐 Website: www.ucy.ac.cy/alumni-development/