Arthur Erickson
Arthur Charles Erickson | |
---|---|
![]() Academic Quadrangle, Simon Fraser University | |
Born | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | June 14, 1924
Died | May 20, 2009 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | (aged 84)
Occupation | Architect |
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]
Biography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/CanadianEmbassyMod.jpg/220px-CanadianEmbassyMod.jpg)
Erickson's buildings are often 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 traveled a few years then taught at the University of Oregon and subsequently the University of British Columbia.[3] After teaching, he worked for a few years at Thompson Berwick and Pratt and Partners[4] before he went on to design houses in partnership with Geoffrey Massey. In 1963, Erickson and Massey submitted the winning design for Simon Fraser University.[5] Erickson was mentor of many other noted local architects and urbanists, including founding members[6] of many of Vancouver's premier design-oriented architectural firms. His buildings were also the subject of painting by famous artists including Vancouver artist Tiko Kerr.[7]
In 1973, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1981.[8] In 1986, he received the AIA Gold Medal. Erickson lived in Point Grey with his life partner and interior design collaborator, Francisco Kripacz.[2]
He died in Vancouver on May 20, 2009.[5] Erickson is survived by his brother, nephews, and niece.
Works
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/McGaughHall.jpg/220px-McGaughHall.jpg)
- 1955: Killam-Massey House, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada[9]
- 1958: Filberg Residence, Comox, British Columbia, Canada
- 1963: Graham House, West Vancouver, British Columbia
- 1965: MacMillan Bloedel Building, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 1965: Smith Residence, West Vancouver, British Columbia
- 1965 onward in stages: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia[10]
- 1967 Catton House (with Geoffrey Massey)
- 1970: Government of Canada pavilion, Expo '70, Osaka, won top architectural award Aug 17, 1970.[10]
- 1970: Ross Street Sikh Temple, Khalsa Diwan Society, Vancouver
- 1971: University Hall, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
- 1973: Champlain Heights Elementary School, Vancouver, British Columbia[11]
- 1976: Haida longhouse-inspired Museum of Anthropology at UBC, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 1978: Eglinton West Subway Station, Toronto, Ontario - with Clifford & Lawrie
- 1978: Yorkdale Subway Station, Toronto, Ontario
- 1978: Evergreen Building, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 1978-1983 in stages: Robson Square, Provincial Law Courts, and Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 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
- 1987: Admiralty Place housing, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (with Cowle and Martin)[12]
- 1988: Dalhousie University Law Library (building addition), Halifax, Nova Scotia
- 1989: Canadian 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
- 1989: Inn at Laurel Point addition, Victoria, British Columbia
- 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
- 2001: Waterfall Building, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 2009: new Portland Hotel, Vancouver[10]
- 2009: Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, USA
- 2009: RCMP Heritage Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
- 2009: Canada House, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 2016: Trump International Hotel and Tower, Vancouver, British Columbia
See also
References
- ^ Cook, Maria (2006-08-20). "The architect of soul". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b Schelling, Steven. "Arthur Erickson, 1924-2009." Xtra, Friday, May 22, 2009. Archived March 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Hill, Max (2014-06-09). "The Concrete Acropolis". The Peak. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ Stouck, David (Sep 6, 2013). Arthur Erickson: An Architect's Life. Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 978-1771000116.
- ^ a b Martin, Sandra. "The greatest architect we have ever produced," The Globe and Mail, Friday, May 22, 2009.
- ^ "Remembering Canada's Greatest Architect". Planetizen: The Urban Planning, Design, and Development Network.
- ^ "Near death in 2006, Tiko Kerr has a 15-painting tribute to architect Arthur Erickson in the BC Law Courts".
- ^ "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 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
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- ^ a b c Pound, Richard W. (2005). 'Fitzhenry and Whiteside Book of Canadian Facts and Dates'. Fitzhenry and Whiteside.
- ^ Champlain Heights Archived 2013-12-09 at the Wayback Machine. vancouverschools125. Retrieved on 2014-04-12.
- ^ "DARTMOUTH WATERFRONT HOUSING, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA". Project description. Arthur Erickson.
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Further reading
- Austen, Ian (May 22, 2009). "Arthur Erickson, Canadian Architect Who Mirrored Landscapes, Dies at 84". The New York Times.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Arthur Erickson at Find a Grave
- 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.
- 1924 births
- 2009 deaths
- Arthur Erickson buildings
- Artists from Vancouver
- Canadian architects
- Canadian urban planners
- Companions of the Order of Canada
- Gay artists
- LGBT artists from Canada
- McGill University alumni
- Modernist architecture in Canada
- Modernist architects
- University of British Columbia alumni
- University of British Columbia faculty