Arthur Erickson
| Arthur Charles Erickson | |
|---|---|
 Academic Quadrangle, Simon Fraser University |
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| Born | June 14, 1924 Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Died | May 20, 2009 (aged 84) Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Awards | AIA Gold Medal (1986) |
| Buildings | Simon Fraser University campus in British Columbia Canadian Embassy in Washington Kuwait Oil Sector Complex in Kuwait City Kunlun Apartment Hotel Development in Beijing, Suki's Building in Vancouver, British Columbia |
Arthur Charles Erickson, CC (June 14, 1924 – May 20, 2009) was a Canadian architect and urban planner. He studied Asian languages at the University of British Columbia, and later earned a degree in architecture from McGill University.[1]
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Biography [edit]
Most of his buildings are modernist concrete structures designed to respond to the natural conditions of their locations, especially climate. Many buildings, such as the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, are inspired by the post and beam architecture of the Coastal First Nations. Additionally, Erickson is also known for numerous futuristic designs such as the Fresno City Hall and the Biological Sciences Building at the University of California, Irvine.
The personal selection of Arthur Erickson as the architect for the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC by then-Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was controversial, because Trudeau overruled the objections and choices of the embassy's design committee. Erickson's biographer Nicholas Olsberg described the building as "making fun of the ridiculous terms to which buildings must adhere in Washington... mocking the US and all of its imperial pretensions."[2]
Erickson was born in Vancouver, the son of Oscar Erickson and Myrtle Chatterson. He served in the Canadian Army Intelligence Corps during World War II. After graduating from McGill in 1950, Erickson taught at the University of British Columbia and designed houses in partnership with Geoffrey Massey. In 1963, Erickson and Massey submitted the winning design for Simon Fraser University.[3] Erickson was mentor of many other noted local architects and urbanists, including founding members of many of Vancouver's premier design-oriented architectural firms.
In 1973, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1981.[4] His family announced that he died in Vancouver on May 20, 2009.[3]
In 1986, he received the AIA Gold Medal.
Erickson lived in Point Grey with his life partner and interior design collaborator, Francisco Kripacz.[2]
Works [edit]
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- 1965 onward in stages - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada[5]
- 1970: Government of Canada pavilion, Expo '70, Osaka, won top architectural award Aug 17, 1970.[5]
- 1971: University Hall, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
- 1975: Graham House
- 1976: Haida longhouse-inspired Museum of Anthropology at UBC, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
- 1978: Eglinton West Subway Station, Toronto, Ontario
- 1978: Yorkdale Subway Station, Toronto, Ontario
- 1978-1983 in stages: Robson Square, Provincial Law Courts, and Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
- 1979: Bank of Canada Building addition, Ottawa, Ontario (with Marani Rounthwaite & Dick)
- 1982: Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Ontario
- 1983: Napp Laboratories, Cambridge, England
- 1984: King's Landing, Toronto, Ontario
- 1985: One California Plaza, Los Angeles, California
- 1989: Canadian Embassy Chancery, Washington, DC
- 1989: Markham Civic Centre, Markham, Ontario (with Richard Stevens Architects Limited)
- 1989: Convention Center, San Diego, California
- 1989: The Kingbridge Centre, King City, Ontario
- 1991: Fresno City Hall, Fresno, California
- 1991: McGaugh Hall, University of California, Irvine
- 1992: Two California Plaza, Los Angeles, California
- 1997: Walter C. Koerner Library, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
- 2009: new Portland Hotel, Vancouver[5]
- 2009: Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, USA
- 2009: Waterfall building, Vancouver, BC
- 2009: RCMP Heritage Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
- 2014: Vancouver's Turn, Vancouver, BC
References [edit]
- ^ Cook, Maria (2006-08-20). "The architect of soul". Ottawa Citizen.[dead link]
- ^ a b Schelling, Steven. "Arthur Erickson, 1924-2009." Xtra, Friday, May 22, 2009.
- ^ a b Martin, Sandra. "The greatest architect we have ever produced," The Globe and Mail, Friday, May 22, 2009.
- ^ "Arthur C. Erickson, C.C., B.Arch., D.Eng., F.R.A.I.C.". Order of Canada. Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ a b c Pound, Richard W. (2005). 'Fitzhenry and Whiteside Book of Canadian Facts and Dates'. Fitzhenry and Whiteside.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Arthur Erickson |
- Arthur Erickson
- Historic Places in Canada
- The Macmillan Bloedel Building (1965) Vancouver
- Provincial Law Courts Vancouver (1973), Interior Concourse View
- Arthur Erickson archive at the Canadian Centre for Architecture
- Mercer, Katie & Chan, Cheryl. "B.C. architect Arthur Erickson dead at 84," The Province (Vancouver), Thursday, May 21, 2009.
- Sinoski, Kelly. "Renowned architect Arthur Erickson dead at 84," The Vancouver Sun, Thursday, May 21, 2009.
- Nick Milkovich Architects Inc.
- Live time-lapse photography of construction of Arthur Erickson's 'The Erickson' building in Vancouver, BC, Canada
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- Canadian architects
- Canadian urban planners
- Companions of the Order of Canada
- Modernist architecture in Canada
- Modernist architects
- People from Vancouver
- LGBT artists from Canada
- Gay artists
- Arthur Erickson buildings
- 1924 births
- 2009 deaths
- University of British Columbia alumni
- McGill University alumni
- University of British Columbia faculty
