Dr. Arthur Erickson (1924-2009)

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:05:55 +0000

Renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson (LLD '81) died on May 20, 2009, at age 84. ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's main building, is one piece in a legacy of architectural masterpieces that he leaves behind.

Erickson was also responsible for a number of key Canadian buildings such as Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in British Columbia and the Vancouver Law Courts complex as well as many other significant structures worldwide, including the Canadian Embassy in Washington, One California Plaza in Los Angeles and the Kuwait Oil Sector Complex in Kuwait City.

Erickson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973 and then was promoted to Companion of the Order in 1981. In 1986, he was the first Canadian to win the prestigious American Institute of Architects Gold Medal.

Erickson and his business partner, Geoffrey Massey, designed ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's campus plan in the late 1960s. Their design, which was considered quite radical at the time, set the U of L apart in architecture and academic circles alike and brought the southern Alberta landmark international recognition.

"Arthur's whole way of thinking was that there were no limits as to what could be done," recalls his long-time friend Dr. Van Christou (LLD '84), who was a founding member of the U of L Board of Governors and the person responsible for connecting Erickson with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the '60s.

"Arthur was a brilliant man and an amazing architect."

Erickson's work has left a lasting imprint on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and southern Alberta that will live on well into the future.

U of L architect, Erickson, passes away

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:37:36 +0000

Dr. Arthur Erickson, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Honorary degree recipient (1981) and the award-winning Canadian architect who, with partner Geoffrey Massey, designed the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus plan and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall in the late 1960s, is dead at age 84.

Erickson passed away surrounded by friends and family on Wednesday. No memorial service is confirmed at this time.

The architect, who had been suffering from Alzheimers, was responsible for a number of Canada's landmark buildings such as Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in British Columbia, the Vancouver Law Courts complex, and many other significant structures worldwide, including the Canadian Embassy in Washington, California Plaza in Los Angeles and the Kuwait Oil Sector Complex in Kuwait City.

After studying Asian languages at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, Erickson earned a degree in architecture from McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Montreal, from which he graduated in 1950. He also worked as an associate professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia from 1957 to 1963.

Erickson was the first Canadian to win the prestigious American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1986. In 1973 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and was promoted to Companion in 1981.

The design of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall was considered to be quite radical for the time, and was undertaken during a decade of growth and change for The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Student enrollment climbed from 650 students in 1967 to more than 1,200 by 1971, creating a need for new and larger facilities and expanded program offerings.

The Aperture sculpture.

In 1972, after three years of construction, Arthur Erickson's uniquely-designed building took over the west side of the river valley on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new west side campus.

The nine-level facility provided space for classrooms, laboratories, offices, student services and residence housing. A covered walkway - nicknamed the worm - connected ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall with the Physical Education and Art Building on the west side of campus.

The new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus was officially opened at a three-day event in September of 1972. The event included a special convocation and the unveiling of the Aperture - a 20 foot-high concrete art structure sited at the geographical centre of campus.

For more information on Arthur Erickson and his unique contribution to architecture, please visit these websites:

http://www.arthurerickson.com/index.html

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090520/bc_arthur_erickson_090520/20090520?hub=BritishColumbia

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/arthur-erickson-1924-2009/5202375.article

http://www.timescolonist.com/Travel/Renowned+architect+Arthur+Erickson+dead/1614035/story.html

UNews - Geoffrey Massey

Dr. Arthur Erickson (1924-2009)

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