OTTAWA, October 4, 2016 鈥� The 九州直播 (RAIC) is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of RAIC Gold Medalist Bing Thom, FRAIC.
鈥淏ing Thom was an internationally recognized leader in our profession,鈥� said RAIC President Allan Teramura, FRAIC. 鈥淗e was a mentor to many and a humane designer who believed in the importance of delight in architecture. His buildings are generous in their gift of public spaces, indoors and out. Bing leaves a legacy of buildings which bring grace to cities and campuses in Canada, the United States, and Hong Kong.鈥�
Mr. Thom, of Vancouver, BC, was in Hong Kong, his birthplace, when he died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm, his wife Bonnie by his side. He was 75. He was in Hong Kong to work on what he considered to be the high point of his career 鈥撎� the听Xiqu Centre for performing arts which is under construction.
Mr. Thom had a distinguished career as an architect and urban designer. In his buildings, swooping forms, the warmth of wood and play of light are brought together with deft skill and听a touch of drama鈥�.
Barry Johns, FRAIC, Chancellor of the RAIC College of Fellows, called Mr. Thom 鈥渁 beloved paragon of our profession, whose work brilliantly and consistently crosses borders and transforms sites, cities and people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
In 2010, Mr. Thom and his firm were awarded the RAIC鈥檚 Architectural Firm of the Year award, and in 2011, he was awarded the RAIC's highest honour 鈥� the RAIC Gold Medal.
"The work of few practitioners fulfills the spirit and intent of the RAIC Gold Medal as Bing Thom's does,鈥� the Gold Medal jury wrote. 鈥淚t is generally understood that the Gold Medal should recognize and honour a life's work: Work that is noteworthy, instructive, influential, and at its best extraordinary. Mr. Thom鈥檚 work addresses all of these interests.鈥�
In 1994, Mr. Thom was named a Fellow of the RAIC鈥檚 College of Fellows, an honour bestowed upon RAIC members in recognition of outstanding achievement. His citation noted that 鈥淏ing鈥檚 exemplary design skills are well-known and he has won the profession鈥檚 most prestigious awards. His work is always inventive, beautifully detailed and has a timeless quality.鈥�
Mr. Thom received a Bachelor of Architecture in 1966 from the听University of British Columbia听and a Master of Architecture in 1970 from the听University of California, Berkeley.
In 1971, he moved to Tokyo to work for Japanese architect-urbanist听Fumihiko Maki. Returning to Canada in 1972, he joined听Arthur Erickson Architects as project director and oversaw projects such as听Roy Thomson Hall听in Toronto (1977) and the听Robson Square听Courthouse Complex in Vancouver (1973鈥�79).
In 1982, Mr. Thom launched his own practice. Today, the firm has offices in Vancouver, Washington and Hong Kong. 听Bing Thom Architects听quickly developed a portfolio of projects noted both for design quality and innovative approaches to bringing projects 鈥� from single family houses to large urban complexes 鈥� to reality.
The Central City/Simon Fraser University Surrey project in Surrey, BC is looked to as a model both for its energetic architecture and mix of academic and commercial activities.听The 鈥嶤han Centre for Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia was the first of several of his arts facilities to gain recognition.
Successful projects include master plans for the Cities of Dalian and Yuxi in China; the Aberdeen Centre in Richmond, BC; the Trinity Uptown Plan for Fort Worth, Texas; the Sunset Community Centre in Vancouver, and Arena Stage in Washington, DC.
In 1990, Bing Thom Architects received the Governor General鈥檚 Medal in Architecture (Excellence) for Point Grey Road Condominiums and a Governor General鈥檚 Award of Merit for the False Creek Yacht Club, both in Vancouver.
In 1995, Thom was made a Member of the听Order of Canada,听and he was a recipient of the听Golden Jubilee Medal听for outstanding service to his country.
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The 九州直播 is the leading voice for excellence in the built environment in Canada. Representing about 5,000 members the RAIC advocates for excellence, works to demonstrate how design enhances the quality of life and promotes responsible architecture in addressing important issues of society.