(Posted on Oct 8, 2016 at 01:00PM by Michelle Bogle)
One of Vancouver’s brightest architects, Bing Thom, passed away on October 4, 2016, of a brain aneurysm at Hong Kong’s Eastern Hospital. He was 75.Â
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He leaves behind a legacy across the globe of notable projects – many of which are located right here in Vancouver.
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After completing a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of British Columbia, followed by a Master's Degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Thom joined Canadian architect Arthur Erickson at his firm. There, he worked on projects, such as the Vancouver Courthouse and Robson Square Complex.
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In 1982, Thom stepped out on his own and established Bing Thom Architects. Here, he completed a number of significant international projects through the years, including:
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• The Expo 92 Canada Pavilion in Seville, Spain
• Arena Stage Theatre in Washington, D.C.
• Xiqu Centre Opera House in Hong Kong
• University of Chicago Centre in Hong Kong
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But, he also continued to work on a number of notable local projects across British Columbia, such as:
• The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC
• Central City Surrey
• Sunset Community Centre
• Surrey City Centre Library
• Guildford Aquatic Centre
• Simon Fraser University’s Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering Building
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Thom also had a great impact on Vancouver’s commercial real estate scene. He could often be found wading through urban planning debates or suggesting out-of-the-box ideas, like creating a beach on the northeast shore of False Creek in 2011. His ideas have helped to spark other innovations from young entrepreneurs; just this summer, a group proposed to build a surf park on that site with a beach.Â
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In his 75 years on this earth, Bing Thom made a difference through his work. He will be missed by his family, colleagues and community – both here in Vancouver and across the globe.