Born in Glasgow, John McAslan was educated at Dunoon Grammar School, Dollar Academy and University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

[2] He trained in Boston, USA, with Cambridge Seven Associates[3] before joining Richard Rogers and Partners in 1980.

[4] He founded John McAslan + Partners in 1993, where he is active in the practice's work across all five studios London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Sydney and New York City.

[9] McAslan was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours 2012, for his services to architecture.

[10] In 2014 he was appointed Regent to the University of Edinburgh,[11] and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor honoris causa in 2015.