This year, RMIT celebrates the 30-year anniversary of this defining redevelopment.
In his acceptance speech, Raggatt defined architecture as a team effort, and encouraged this cohort of graduates to strive for greatness in their careers.
"Architecture is a bit like filmmaking, requiring a long list of skilled people to achieve, and at the top of this list are those who give their encouragement and support when there were much less courageous choices available," he said.
"I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to these people … each of whom fundamentally affected our opportunities for architecture.
"No doubt all of you graduating here today have already been recipients of such people who have encouraged and supported you.
"But now I reckon it's going to be your turn. You will be the ones able to make a difference, you will be the ones to make those courageous decisions."
McDougall was delighted when he received the news that he would be awarded with an RMIT honorary doctorate.
"I want to deeply thank the Chancellor, the Council, the RMIT community – especially the School of Architecture and Urban Design –- for this great, great honour," he said.
"I realised that architecture could symbolize a civil society. The architect was narrator, theorist and craftsman, and ARM was established on this basis.
"We were dedicated to always learning, always striving to capture the ideas and stories in built form. It was hard, but I have to say I feel lucky.
"I had the great fortune to team up with Howard and Steve for over 45 years and we had the luck to design buildings for adventurous clients."
Professor Vivian Mitsogianni, Dean, School of Architecture & Urban Design, lauded McDougall and Raggatt’s sheer bravery of experimentation and deliberate support of Melbourne and Australian architectural culture.
"Their groundbreaking design experimentation, support of cultural production and discourse in Australia, significant body of adventurous and highly awarded buildings and commitment to education and mentoring of the next generation of architects is fittingly acknowledged through this award," she said.
"We are very proud of RMIT Architecture’s over 35-year long association with Ian and Howard and ARM Architecture. They have been an enormous influence on several generations of architects and students in Melbourne, and we congratulate them on this important honour."
