Ronald Thom


Ronald James Thom, was a Canadian architect. He is well-known for two works: Massey College and Trent University's riverside campus.

Early years

He was born in Penticton, British Columbia, the son of James Thom and Elena Myrtle Fennel. Thom served as an aviator with the RCAF during World War II, returned and graduated from the Vancouver School of Art in 1947. He never went to architecture school but apprenticed at Thompson, Berwick & Pratt, where he quickly became recognized as an unusually gifted draughtsman and designer. and also designed notable houses in the Vancouver area, several of which won Massey Awards, the country's top award for architecture. In 1957, he became a registered architect at Thompson, Berwick and Pratt and a partner shortly afterward.

Professional practice

He established R.J. Thom & Associates in Toronto in 1963 and later the Thom Partnership. He was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. In 1980, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He battled alcoholism throughout his life and was eventually forced out of the partnership by some younger partners. He died at his office in 1986 after a bout of heavy drinking. His ashes were taken back by his family and scattered off the Pacific Ocean at Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.
He was the subject of a major retrospective exhibition in 2013 and 2014, "Ron Thom and the Allied Arts" featuring a collection of photographs, drawings, letters and furniture that he designed for his buildings. The exhibition was shown in British Columbia in 2013, at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto beginning in February 2014, and at the Beaverbrook Gallery, Fredericton in November 2014.

Works


BuildingYear CompletedArchitectStyleLocationImage----
Master plan and buildings of Massey College1963Ronald ThomModern architecture / Medieval Oxbridge CollegeUniversity of Toronto Toronto, Ontario----
Fraser Residence 1968 Ronald Thom and Paul Merrick Modern architecture4 Old George Place Toronto, Ontario
Catherine Parr Traill College Master plan and renovations of buildings; Champlain College, Lady Eaton College, the Bata Library and science complex on the Symons Campus1969–1973Ronald ThomModern architectureTrent University, Peterborough, Ontario
St. Jude's Cathedral 1970Ronald ThomModern architectureIqaluit ----
Fleming College1973Ronald ThomModern architecturePeterborough, Ontario----
Pearson College of the Pacific1977Ronald Thom & Barry Vance DownsModern architectureVictoria, British Columbia----
College Education Centre1982Ronald ThomModern architectureNipissing University, Nipissing, Ontario----
Toronto Zoo - master plan and pavilions 1974Ronald Thom with Craig & Boake and Clifford & LaurieModern architectureMetropolitan Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Ontario----
Atria North office complex, North York1978-80Ronald ThomModern architecture2255 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario----
New Shaw Festival Theatre1973Ronald ThomModern architecture10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario----
Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts1977Ronald ThomModern architecture130 Navy Street, Oakville, Ontario----
The Westin Prince Hotel, Toronto1975Ronald ThomModern architecture900 York Mills Road, Toronto, Ontario----
Ryerson Architecture Building1979-1981Ronald ThomModern architectureRyerson University 325 Church Street Toronto, Ontario----

Honours and Awards[http://caa.ucalgary.ca/biographies#T Biographies | Canadian Architectural Archives | University of Calgary]. Caa.ucalgary.ca. Retrieved on 2014-04-12.

Thom was married twice, first to Christine Helen Millard in 1943 and survived by second wife Molly, daughter Emma and son Adam Thom.