Thom, Ronald James, 1923-1986

FILBERG CHAPEL Ron Thom

Perspective

ca. 22,000 drawings - ca. 296 display items - 57 photographs - ca. 50 m of textual records.

Canadian architect. Ronald James Thom was born on May 15, 1923 at Penticton, BC. He trained as a painter at the Vancouver School of Art, graduating in 1947. The next year, Thom indentured with the firm of Thompson, Berwick, Pratt & Partners (Vancouver, BC), and in 1957 became a registered architect. He then entered into parternship with the firm in 1958. In 1963, as the Toronto partner of Thompson, Berwick, Pratt & Partners, Thom established an office under the name Ron Thom Architect. This partnership lasted until 1969, when Thom founded the firm R.J. Thom Architects. In 1974 the name was changed to The Thom Partnership, and included architects, planners, interior design consultants and graphic designers. Thom was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (1973), Member of the Ontario Association of Architects, Member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, and Member of the Province of Quebec Association of Architects (1966-1969). He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law (LL.D) by Trent University in 1971, and an honorary Doctorate of Engineering in 1973. Thom passed away in Toronto, ON on October 29 1986.

Awards: Winner of Design Competition for Massey College, University of Toronto; Citations of Excellence in Architecture (4) - International College and University Conference and Exposition, 1970; Toronto Chapter Annual Design Award - 1970; National Design Council Merit awards (2) - 1971; Canadian Housing Design Council Award - 1971; Canadian Architect Yearbook Award of Excellence - 1974.

Significant projects include: Trent University (Peterborough, ON); Massey College, University of Toronto (Toronto, ON); Peterborough and Lindsay Campuses of the Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology; Faculty of Arts & Social Science Complex, Queen's University (Kingston, ON); Shaw Festival Theatre (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON); Prince Hotel (Toronto, ON); Lester B. Pearson College (Vancouver Island, BC); Metropolitan Toronto Zoo (Toronto, ON).

Fonds consists of drawings, display material, photographs, and office files of the architectural practice of Ron Thom, 1964-1983.

Title based on contents of fonds.

Acquired by donation in 1975, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, and 1999.

Finding aids available at repository.

Further accruals expected.

Accessions: 2A/75.02, 54A/79.10, 126A/82.11, 177A/83.32, 189A/84.10, 244A/88.05, 249A/89.05, 267A/99.06