Bing Thom (1940-2016)
An earlier blog entry of mine, “Genealogy of Influence,” promised a series
of posts about the architects and theorists who influenced my architectural
world view. This is the latest post in the series.
Canadian
architect Bing Thom, CM, LLD (Hon.),
AIBC, FRAIC, AIA passed away last Tuesday at the age of 75. Although his name may not be a
familiar one to many here in Oregon, he enjoyed a growing global reputation not
only as a talented architect but also as a dedicated city-builder. It isn’t
hyperbole to say he was perhaps Canada’s preeminent architect at the time of
his death, his impact upon the nation’s architectural heritage rivaling that of
his former teacher and employer, Arthur Erickson.
Like
Erickson, Bing fundamentally believed in the transformative power of great
architecture to uplift not only the physical but also the economic and social
conditions of a community. His belief in this power became the grounding
philosophy of his career, resulting in memorable architecture that consistently
tapped into something beyond aesthetics.
Perhaps
even more significant than the individual buildings he designed was his shaping
of opinions regarding urban design, particularly when it came to his home city
of Vancouver, British Columbia. He never shied away from speaking his mind. He
called things as he saw them, including sounding alarm bells early on regarding
the city’s troubling shift toward being a playground for the wealthy, one
lacking a broad and sustainable economic foundation.
It was
his sage acumen and undeniable talent that attracted commissions from around
the globe. His work spanned continents, and so would his firm (now with offices
in Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Washington, DC). Notable projects worldwide
include Vancouver’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Guilford Aquatic Centre, and Surrey Centre in British Columbia; the Arena Stage in
Washington; Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, TX; and the Xiqu Center in
Hong Kong (now under construction).
Surrey City Centre Library (my photo; all other photos and renderings by Bing Thom Architects)
Xiqu Centre, Hong Kong
Arena Stage, Washington D.C.
Guilford Aquatic Centre, Surrey, B.C.
Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough, ON
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Vancouver, B.C.
The
impact of his work has been undeniable. In recognition of his contributions to an
appreciative nation, the Governor General of Canada, on behalf of her majesty
Queen Elizabeth II, years ago bestowed the Order of Canada upon
Bing. Bing also was the recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal, the highest honor given to a Canadian architect.
On a
personal note, I was terribly saddened when I learned of Bing’s passing. In my
mind, he was still vital and evolving, still young and forceful. It never
occurred to me he could possibly leave us so soon. It was my honor to work for Bing
during the early years of Bing Thom Architects (BTA) back in the 1980s.(1) He was a true mentor and influence, helping set me on
my way as an architect.
False Creek Yacht Club, Vancouver, BC
Northwest Territories Pavilion, Expo 86, Vancouver, BC
In
retrospect, what I most admire about Bing was his belief in all possibilities
when most others would opt to take the easy path toward facile solutions. As
many others have already said since the news of his death broke, he was a true visionary.
He was a big thinker of the highest order. I know he’s left an admirable legacy
for his firm, one which his colleagues will sustain for many years to come.
I am
grateful I had the relatively recent opportunity to chat and catch up with Bing
during the joint AIA/Architectural Institute of British Columbia regional conference held in Vancouver in 2013. He was the same old Bing, always smiling,
always a teacher, one whose words commanded everyone’s attention. He was
obviously very comfortable in his own shoes then, a confident and sought-after elder
statesman who trusted his imagination and a wealth of inspiration endowed by a
lifetime of experiences.
Bing
had a tremendous impact upon many, many people during his life. He will be
missed dearly by all who count themselves among his extended family.
The
following is Bing Thom Architect’s official news release acknowledging the
passing of the firm’s founder and leader:
October
4, 2016
It is with deep sadness
that we announce the death of our Founding Principal, Bing Thom. Bing suffered
a brain aneurism while on a recent trip in Hong Kong and passed away in that
city on the afternoon of October 4th. His wife, Bonnie Thom, who shared his
life for over 50 years, was by his side.
Bing Thom was one of
Canada’s most admired and accomplished architects, a dedicated and artful
city-builder whose global reputation was closely tied to metro Vancouver, a
region he cared for deeply and did much to protect and to improve. Bing’s
commitment to using architecture to improve the urban environment was
recognized by a range of honors including the Order of Canada, the Golden
Jubilee Medal, honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University and the University
of British Columbia, the Margolese Prize, an honorary professorship from Tongji
University in Shanghai, and the RAIC Gold Medal, the highest honour given to a
Canadian architect.
Born in Hong Kong and
immigrating to Canada as a child, Bing received his Bachelor of Architecture
degree from the University of British Columbia and his Master of Architecture
degree from the University of California at Berkeley. A student of the 60’s,
Bing helped pioneer one of the first academic programs in Ethnic Studies in
North America during his time in Berkeley. His career began in the offices of
Fumihiko Maki and Arthur Erickson before he started his own firm, Bing Thom
Architects (BTA), in 1982.
His firm’s commissions
cover the globe, from the Expo’ 92 Canada Pavilion in Seville, Spain, to Arena
Stage Theater in Washington DC, Tarrant County College Trinity River East
Campus in Fort Worth, Texas, to the current Xiqu Centre Opera House at the West
Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, the University of Chicago Center in
Hong Kong, the Binhai Cultural District of Tianjin, the Shijiazhuang Performing
Arts Center, and Shenyang Kerry Centre in central Shenyang.
BTA’s local portfolio of
projects include the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of
British Columbia, Central City Surrey, Sunset Community Centre, Surrey City Centre
Library, the Guildford Aquatic Centre, and currently Simon Fraser University’s
Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering Building and First Baptist
Church Redevelopment.
Bing Thom was a mentor to
so many architects young and old, sharing his values and passion for creating
beautiful spaces and places that better communities. He was never afraid to
speak his mind. He saw himself first as a public servant and held a fundamental
belief in the transformative power of great architecture to uplift not only the
physical, but also the economic and social conditions of a community.
He demanded the best from
everyone and inspired each of us to achieve it. His positive impact will
continue to be felt both in the communities in which our projects are built and
in the profound influence he had on his many colleagues and so many others.
(1) I joined BTA in 1983, immediately
following my graduation from the University of Oregon and just after the firm opened
its doors the year before in the midst of a deep economic recession. I spent
two enormously formative years there, assisting Bing on several notable
projects including the Northwest
Territories pavilion at Expo 86 and the Point Grey Road Condominiums, and culminating
in my achieving professional licensure in 1985. I left that year to pursue a
graduate degree at UCLA, ultimately returning to BTA in 1987 for a second
satisfying stint during which I worked on the False
Creek Yacht Club, among other projects. I left BTA in 1988 to relocate to
Eugene, marry my wife Lynne, and embark on my career with
Robertson/Sherwood/Architects.
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