Trent Appoints Master Planning Architect: Press Release

Trent University
Peterborough

PRESS RELEASE

July 10th, 1963.

President and Vice-Chancellor T.H.B. Symons of Trent University, Peterborough, announced today the appointment of Ronald J. Thom as master planning architect for the University. Mr. Thom, who is 40, is a design partner of the Vancouver architectural firm of Thompson, Berwick & Pratt, with wide experience in architectural design, civic planning,and art. As master planning architect, Mr. Thom will be responsible for preparing the development plan of the University's campus at Nassau, in association with the University's campus planning committee, chaired by Professor Denis Smith. Mr. S.R. Adamson, chairman of the building and grounds committee of the Board of Governors at Trent University, says that "the committee considered a large number of excellent submissions from architects and unanimously recommended the selection of Mr. Thom". Mr. C.K. Fraser, chairman of the Board of Governors, adds that "we are delighted that Mr. Thom is available for this important commission".

Mr. Thom is a graduate of and former teacher at the Vancouver School of Art, and has taught design at the Architectural School of the University of British Columbia. He became an architect by indenturing with the firm of Thompson, Berwick & Pratt, and later became a partner of the firm. He assisted C.E. Pratt in the design of the B.C. Electric Building in Vancouver, and he is responsible for the design of religious, educational, recreational, and commercial buildings, and many homes, in British Columbia. Mr. Thom has played a major part in planning for the redesign of the centre of the city of Vancouver. His most recent and notable commission, which he gained in competition, was the design of Massey College in the University of Toronto, now nearing completion. Elisabeth Kilbourn, the art critic of the Toronto Star, wrote recently that Massey College could be a "most original and important piece of architecture."

Mr. Thom's firm of Thompson, Berwick & Pratt has held the commission for the design of buildings at the University of British Columbia since 1912. The firm has recently received commissions for the National Museum in Ottawa, the Canadian Embassy in Brasilia, and Vancouver International Airport.

Mr. Thom, who is now a resident of Toronto, will begin his work for Trent University immediately. The University's first five-year capital construction programme, covering the years 1963 to 1968, calls for the construction on the Nassau campus of five buildings: an Arts building, the first residential college, the University Library, a Science building, and a power plant. Mr. Thom speaks of his opportunity on the beautiful, undulating riverside site at Nassau as "this most exciting project".