Bing Thom

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Bing Wing Thom
File:Bing thom portrait.jpg
Born (1940-12-08) 8 December 1940 (age 83)
Hong Kong
Occupation Architect
Awards Order of Canada
File:Central city plaza lehoux.jpg
Central City plaza and forecourt in Surrey, BC.
File:Central city development lehoux.jpg
Central City mixed use development in Surrey, BC, opened 2003
File:Chan centre performing arts ubc tessler.jpg
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC in Vancouver, BC.
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts - Concert Hall in Vancouver, BC.
File:Arena stage physical model goldie.jpg
Model of Arena stage Theatre Expansion in Washington, DC.

Bing Wing Thom, CM (Chinese: 譚秉榮; born 8 December 1940) is a Canadian architect and urban designer. Born in Hong Kong, he immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with his family in 1950.[1] Despite the coincidence of their family names, he is not related to the Canadian architect Ron Thom.

Career

Thom received a Bachelor of Architecture in 1966 from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Architecture in 1970 from the University of California, Berkeley.[2]

He moved to Tokyo in 1971 to work for Japanese architect-urbanist Fumihiko Maki. Returning to Canada in 1972, he joined Arthur Erickson Architects as project director and oversaw projects such as Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto (1977), the Robson Square Courthouse Complex in Vancouver (1973–79) and the Air Defence Ministry Building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In 1981, Thom established his own architecture firm, Vancouver-based Bing Thom Architects.[3]

In 1995, Thom was made a Member of the Order of Canada and he is a recipient of the Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to his country. He is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Thom is the recipient of honorary degrees from the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.

In 2010, Thom and his firm were awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's Architectural Firm of the Year award.[4] and in 2011 he was awarded the RAIC's highest honour, the RAIC Gold Medal [5]

Bing Thom Architects

As of 2015 the firm has a total staff of 47, including principals Thom, Michael Heeney, and Venelin Kokalov[6], directors, registered architects, architectural graduate and students, urban designers and planners, and support staff.[7]

The firm specializes in urban planning and complex building types such as civic buildings, performing arts centres and public spaces. Typically projects are mixed-use, integrating commercial, residential and cultural uses to create a sustainable whole. They have offices in Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Washington, DC.

Architectural and urban design projects

Structure Location Type Year
Guildford Aquatic Centre Surrey, British Columbia, Canada community centre 2015
Aberdeen Square retail and office addition to Aberdeen Centre Richmond, British Columbia, Canada mixed-use development 2013
Tarrant County College Downtown Campus Fort Worth, Texas, USA educational institute 2011
Surrey City Centre Public Library Surrey, British Columbia, Canada library 2011
Arena Stage Theater expansion Washington, DC, USA performing arts structure 2010
SAIT Polytechnic Parking Garage Calgary, Alberta, Canada parking structure 2009
Sunset Community Centre Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada community centre 2008
Trafalgar Square Installation London, England, United Kingdom public square 2008
Aberdeen Centre addition and condo development Richmond, British Columbia, Canada residential structure 2008
SAIT Polytechnic Master Plan Calgary, Alberta, Canada educational institute 2007
Trinity Uptown planning and urban design study Fort Worth, Texas, USA mixed-use development 2006
Central City Shopping Centre, SFU campus and office integration Surrey, British Columbia, Canada educational institute and retail development 2004
Aberdeen Centre Richmond, British Columbia, Canada retail, entertainment development 2004
City of Dalian Masterplan Dalian, People's Republic of China city plan 1995
City of Yuxi Masterplan Yuxi, People's Republic of China city plan 1999
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada performing arts structure 1997
Canada Pavilion at Expo '92 Seville, Spain general structure 1992
False Creek Yacht Club Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada general structure 1989
The Pointe condominium Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada residential development 1995
Pacific Canada Pavilion, Vancouver Aquarium Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada general structure 1998

Awards and prizes

Publications

  • Bing Thom Architects, Bing Thom Works, Princeton Architectural Press, 2011 [10]
  • Roan, Neill Archer, Scale + Timbre, The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Black Dog Publishing, 2002
  • Bing Thom Architects, Canada Pavilion: Expo '92 Seville, Spain, Bing Thom Architects, Inc., 1992

External links

References