Private practice(s)
In 1965, Alington moved into private practice, accepting a partnership offered by Allot Gabites and James Beard in their architectural practice of Gabites and Beard. This partnership merged with Toomath and Wilson in 1971, becoming Gabites Toomath Beard Wilson and Partners. Although this 'super-practice' was to win the only two NZIA national medals awarded in 1972 (Alington for the Upper Hutt Civic Centre, and Toomath for the Karori Teachers' College), the firm proved to be short-lived, and in that same year splintered under the weight of too many personalities. William Toomath and Derek Wilson took on new partners, becoming Toomath Wilson Irvine Anderson (TWIA), while Beard formed his own practice under the name of James Beard & Co. Alington remained with Al Gabites, and together with Derrick Edmondson formed Gabites Alington Edmonson. In 1978, George Porter joined the practice as a partner, prompting yet another name change to Gabites Porter and Partners. In 1983, Alington set up his own architectural practice: Alington Group Architects. He retired from professional practice in 2000.
Much of Alington's work during the 1970s took the form of institutional projects including work for civic councils, and educational institutions such as schools and universities. Some examples of these are:
VUW School of Music Kelburn, Wellington 1984
NZ Chancery New Delhi (unbuilt project) 1984
Boulevard Hotel (unrealised project) 1984
Dunedin City Council Administration Building (competition entry) 1979
Waipa County Offices Te Awamutu 1977
Wellington High School Wellington, 1973
NZ Chancery New Delhi (unbuilt project) 1973
Upper Hutt Civic Centre Upper Hutt 1972
Helen Lowry Halls of Residence Karori, Wellington, 1972
Massey University Halls of Residence Palmerston North, 1970
Alington also carried out a large number of church projects, including: Stokes Valley Methodist Church (Stokes Valley, 1966), St Michael's Anglican Church Extension (Wellington, 1971), St Peter's Anglican Church Alterations (Wellington, 1978), St Mary's Anglican Church Extension 1988 (New Plymouth), Karori Baptist Church (Wellington, 1990), St Mary's Anglican Church Extension (Wellington, 1993). He was a Wellington Anglican Diocesan Synods Person 1972–1990.
In 1972, Alington was appointed honorary lecturer and tutor at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Architecture & Design, lecturing in architectural history. He also taught at the University of Auckland as a visiting lecturer in 1982.
Other professional posts held included: NZIA branch committee executive member (1961–1969), NZIA journal assistant editor (1964–1969), NZIA councillor, vice president, branch chairman (1977–1979), and Architectural Centre president (1970–1972).
Alington died in Wellington on 24 February 2024, at the age of 94.
