The Sasaki/Bing Thom redevelopment plan creates a new mixed-use, transit-oriented neighborhood that connects to the regional park system and downtown Silver Spring. . He was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Bing Thom Architects was a finalist in the international competition to design the master plan for the Expo 2010 World’s Fair site in Shanghai. In 2007, after years of inactivity with the project, a shorter 532-foot-tall version of the design was proposed again but later canceled in favour of a design that better optimized floor space. The prefabricated trusses at Bing Thom’s Guildford Aquatic Centre are made of laminated strand lumber painted with semitransparent white exterior-grade paint. Royal Architectural Institute of Canada website, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal — 2011 Recipient, Bing Thom Works - Princeton Architectural Press, Marche International des Professionels de l'Immobilier, Architectural Institute of British Columbia, United States Institute for Theater Technology, Renowned Vancouver architect Bing Thom has died, "Vancouver architect Bing Thom dead at age 75", http://awards.aibc.ca/award-recipients/2016-recipients/, http://awards.aibc.ca/award-recipients/2013-recipients/, https://raic.org/raic/gold-medal-%E2%80%94-2011-recipient, https://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781568989594, Bing Thom speaking on Vancouver's development at an SFU City Program lecture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bing_Thom&oldid=993125016, University of British Columbia Faculty of Applied Science alumni, UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design alumni, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Performing arts structure (Chinese opera), Aberdeen Square retail and office addition to, Trinity Uptown planning and urban design study, Educational institute and retail development, Excellence on the Waterfront Awards – Top Honor, The Waterfront Center, Washington DC (The Trinity Uptown Plan, Fort Worth OK), Merit Awards, Landscape Analysis & Planning, Boston Society of Landscape Architects (The Trinity Uptown Plan, Fort Worth OK). City Council had already approved a 506-foot-tall version of the building, but it was unwilling to permit Thom to increase the height of the building by raising the ceilings of the residential suites and adding six floors. Approximately 15 years ago, he proposed a 600-foot-tall, 56-storey tower for hotel owner Peter Eng which would have undoubtedly created a photogenic landmark at the heart of the city. The largest master plan completed by the firm was for the Dalian New Town in Dalian, China. Project Info Architects: Bing Thom Architects Location: British Columbia, Canada Architect in Charge: Bing Thom Architects Area: 82000.0 ft2 Year: 2011 Type: … With Bing Thom, we pursued a butterfly-effect made of all the impossibles magnified as powerful possibilities: in the quality of life in our city, in the revival of a key artery in our community, in the restoration of a monument that represents the history of Vancouver in a … The ambitious design’s structures bridged both banks of the river. Renowned Vancouver architect Bing Thom dead at age 75. At the time, city planners had maintained that its regulated height limits designed to protect views of the mountains were inflexible. [6], As of 2015 the firm has a total staff of 47, including principals Venelin Kokalov and Shinobu Homma,[7] directors, registered architects, architectural graduate and students, urban designers and planners, and support staff.[8]. Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. The project is currently going through the municipal government’s rezoning phase. Thom died in 2016, and his design team were tasked with creating a piano to compliment the new building. However, the provincial government ultimately favoured the idea of a waterfront expansion with a mountain backdrop and chose the Burrard Landing site to directly expand the Vancouver Convention Centre at Canada Place. Although such visions are beyond preliminary, the most prominent and thoroughly considered vision to date is Thom’s idea of converting the gallery spaces into a multi-purpose concert hall complex. Winner, Canadian National Selection (Canada Pavilion, Excellence on the Waterfront Award, The Waterfront Center, Washington DC (False Creek Yacht Club / Anderson's Restaurant, Vancouver), This page was last edited on 8 December 2020, at 22:44. The Xiqu Center, part of the West Kowloon Cultural District, will be designed by the collaborative team of Bing Thom Architects and Ronald Lu & Partners. Bing Thom Architects (BTA) is an internationally recognised Canadian architecture and urban planning firm with a 30-year history in large scale performing arts, cultural and public institutional projects. Bing Thom passed away yesterday while on a recent trip in Hong Kong, the city of his birth. The gap in the core of the building envelopes reduce the building’s heating and cooling energy usage by an estimated 15% and uniquely provides open communal spaces for residents. One of celebrated architect Bing Thom’s last projects was the design of a new development in downtown Vancouver entitled the Butterfly. A 1995 proposal by Thom provided the provincial government of the day with an alternate concept for expanding the city’s convention centre facilities. A concert hall with 1,950 seats would be constructed deep under the Art Gallery’s North Plaza, and the historic Annex building facing Robson Street would be turned into a 450-seat multipurpose dance, music, and theatre venue. This is a 56 storey residential property, with a plan view reminiscent of the wings of a butterfly. The Xiqu Centre is one of the 17 core arts and cultural venues to be opened within the District. A significantly simpler, generic design by another architectural firm was built after the Olympics, but it did retain Thom’s design of a swimming pool with a partial glass floor with one end of the pool cantilevered over to the facade of the historic hotel structure. school. Raising the stadium floor would create underground exhibition halls with 30-foot-high ceilings, but in the process the stadium’s seating capacity would be reduced from 60,000 seats to 50,000 seats. Bing Thom Architects designed it to take the shape of an irregular curve, with a 4 degree tilt from vertical to minimize exterior reflections. Status: Proposed (active; rezoning application). [4] and in 2011 he was awarded the RAIC's highest honour, the RAIC Gold Medal. My client is society and the public” – permeated all of his projects. Thom received honorary degrees from the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. The plan totals 2,800 apartments and 450,000 square feet of new mixed-use commercial space, all within a five-minute walk of the nearby Metro station—offering a more urban and walkable lifestyle for the area’s growing population. In 1981, Thom established his own architecture firm, Vancouver-based Bing Thom Architects. Instead of building on the site of Waterfront Station’s SeaBus terminal or Burrard Landing, he envisioned a major retrofit and expansion of BC Place Stadium that would have turned it into a convention facility. Returning to Canada in 1972, he joined Arthur Erickson Architects as project director and oversaw projects such as Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto (1977), the Robson Square Courthouse Complex in Vancouver (1973–1979) and the Air Defence Ministry Building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. To celebrate his career and impact on the architectural community, particularly designs that may have been forgotten, here is Daily Hive’s selection of five highly unique planned or never built Bing Thom projects: Thom had his own vision for the renewal and expansion of historic Hotel Georgia at the northwest corner of West Georgia and Howe streets in downtown Vancouver. Then-undeveloped sites surrounding the stadium would have been used to integrate the stadium and new meeting and exhibition space with Rogers Arena and Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Typically projects are mixed-use, integrating commercial, residential and cultural uses to create a sustainable whole. Bing Thom leads a global architecture firm with award-winning projects that are re-imagining culture, community and sustainability. In 2010, Thom and his firm were awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's Architectural Firm of the Year award. However, the dream began to unravel in 2016 with the sudden passing of Bing Thom, and in 2017 when Martin Roth, the director of the (VAM), died from cancer. They have offices in Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Washington, DC. Altogether, the proposal called for the creation of 800,000 square feet of meeting and convention space in addition to the existing stadium floor area. Project credits: Design Architect: Bing Thom Architects Architect of record: Bing Thom Architects Design team: Bing Thom, Michael Heeney, Venelin … The project was awarded to BTA in November 2009, the groundbreaking took place just a few months later in February 2010, and the opening is scheduled for September 2011 –in total less than two years from start to finish. Thom's work encompassed a wide range of projects from residential to hospitality, institutional and cultural. There would have been 100 hotel rooms on the lower floors and market residential units on the upper floors. We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. In 1982, Bing Thom opened his own firm, ... As Mr. Thom's acclaim and project list grew, he expanded his team of diverse and exceptionally skilled designers. Revery is a Vancouver-based, and internationally recognized architecture, interiors, and planning studio renowned for creating unique and innovative work. Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive content, contests, and perks direct to you. If approved, this could finally be Thom’s signature skyscraper in downtown Vancouver’s skyline. [5], Thom died at age 75 of a brain aneurysm while on a trip to Hong Kong in October 2016. More recently, his namesake firm was responsible for the design of Guildford Aquatic Centre in Surrey and a soon-to-be-built five-storey expansion of SFU Surrey next to Central City. The 5.8-square-kilometre plan spanned the waterfront areas along the Huangpu River and strived to address environmental concerns, the long-lasting future use of hte site, and balance contemporary design with traditional Chinese culture. Project Year: 2011 Project Area: 82,000 sqf Photographs: Courtesy of Bing Thom Architects, Nic Lehoux. Bing spoke to Nancy Bendtsen on … Access into both theatres will be through the main historic building, which will be converted into lobby spaces for the theatres, restaurants, boutiques, and other cultural uses. He even designed master plans for entire communities and Expo World’s Fairs. He moved to Tokyo in 1971 to work for Japanese architect-urbanist Fumihiko Maki. With Bing Thom, we pursued a butterfly-effect made of all the impossibles magnified as powerful possibilities: in the quality of life in our city, in the revival of a key artery in our community, in the restoration of a monument that represents the history of Vancouver in a … Last year, working with developer Westbank Projects, his firm unveiled a zebra-like design for a 550-foot-tall, 56-storey project for the ground level parking lot of First Baptist Church on the northwest corner of Burrard and Nelson streets. The firm grew to include a research studio as well as a planning practice. Located on the coast of China near the North Korean border, Dalian is one of the largest ports in t… His wife, Bonnie Thom, who shared his life for over 50 years, was by his side. At 10 feet high, 8 feet wide, and 95 feet long, each truss is large enough for a person to walk through to service the sprinklers, lighting, and mechanical systems hidden within. The project, as a result of these unfortunate circumstances, was effectively shelved. In recent years, the Vancouver office has been supplemented with offices in Washington, DC, and Hong Kong. He was 75 years old. In 1982, Thom established his own firm, Vancouver-based Bing Thom Architects, with offices now in Washington DC, Hong Kong and Beijing. [1] His paternal grandfather originally immigrated to Vancouver in the 1890s and his father was born in New Westminster before moving to Hong Kong after being unable to practice as a pharmacist in Canada. Bing Thom Architects + Ronald Lu & Partners has designed this world-class facility for the preservation, development and promotion of this important art form of Chinese cultural heritage in Hong Kong. Bing Thom Architects thoughtful site design has turned this project into a catalyst in the SW Washington community spurring redevelopment with in the surrounding areas. There will be 295 market residential units on the upper floors and community amenities in the lower floors. A year after the unexpected death of founding partner — and Canadian architecture legend — Bing Thom, the namesake firm is adapting for the future, with a recent public […] Located below the Campus Commons, the underground structure and its accompanying road realignments consolidate and rationalize the current sprawled distribution of campus parking into a central facility. Venelin Kokalov, the design principal of Revery Architecture (formerly Bing Thom Architects), is the lead on The Butterfly. With advances in easily available electronic information, the role of libraries is changing and providing appropriate spaces for evolving library activities is now the priority. No personal information is being stored. With advances in easily available electronic information, the role of libraries is changing and the book collection is no longer the central focus. A separate 8-storey building on the site will be purposed for 75 ‘below market rate’ rental housing units owned by the historic church, which will undergo a complete restoration and seismic upgrade. Breadcrumb Trail Links. Local News; New SFU Surrey Campus building was architect Bing Thom's last project. Even in 1982, the year that Bing Thom, AIA, built his studio, he was looking forward with plans for growth. Bing Thom Architects. Thom, 75, was known for a number of high-profile projects in Metro Vancouver and around the world, including the UBC Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Central City which houses SFU Surrey, Aberdeen Centre in Richmond, Xiqu Centre performing arts venue at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, and Arena Stage in Washington DC. Bing Thom Architects has 6 projects published in our site, focused on: Cultural architecture, Educational architecture, Sports architecture. [2], Thom received a Bachelor of Architecture in 1966 from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Architecture in 1970 from the University of California, Berkeley.[3]. Born in Hong Kong, he immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with his family in 1950. Bing Wing Thom, CM (Chinese: 譚秉榮; 8 December 1940 – 4 October 2016) was a Canadian architect and urban designer. Bing Thom Architects is based in a former factory that manufactured rubber diving suits. “I wanted a space where I could move into other warehouse spaces cheaply,” he says. Over his 35-year career of leading Bing Thom Architects, Thom received Canada’s most prestigious awards – including the Order of Canada, the Golden Jubilee Medal and the RAIC Gold Medal. Prominent Vancouver architect Bing Thom has died of a brain aneurysm. Thom went to work for Japanese architect-urbanist Fumihiko Maki in 1971, returning to Canada in 1972 when he joined Arthur Erickson Architects and oversaw a number of high-profile projects in Canada and abroad. However, the municipal government did not approve Thom and Eng’s desire to ‘lengthen’ the building so that it could enhance the skyline. Bing Thom Architects thoughtful site design has turned this project into a catalyst in the SW Washington community spurring redevelopment within the surrounding areas. Here are five works that exemplify his legacy. The ground-level plaza would also be retrofitted as a part of the project, although construction is now well underway on a separate City-supported project that will transform the plaza into an event-friendly space. Bing Thom Architects Founded in Vancouver in 1982, BTA has executed a spectrum of work with a particular focus on cultural and institutional projects. This conversion project is spearheaded by Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society, which has a board of directors comprised of leaders in Vancouver’s cultural community such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The LEED® Gold Certified Surrey City Centre Library marks the next phase of a major civic investment in the transformation of downtown Surrey. One of Canada’s best known architectural practices is entering 2018 with a new moniker, as Bing Thom Architects announce a change of name to Revery Architecture. One of Vancouver’s most renowned architects Bing Thom passed away unexpectedly in a Hong Kong hospital on Tuesday after suffering from a brain aneurysm. Based on built projects on our site. Thom received a Bachelor of Architecture in 1966 from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Architecture in 1970 from the University of California, Berkeley. The firm was just one of six firms selected to submit master plans and the only Canadian architectural firm chosen. This parkade building represents the first step towards fulfilling Revery Architecture’s master plan for urbanizing the campus of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. . One of Vancouver’s most renowned architects Bing Thom passed away unexpectedly in a Hong Kong hospital on Tuesday after suffering from a brain aneurysm. "Bing Thom was a dedicated and artful city-builder whose global reputation was closely tied to Metro Vancouver, a region he cared for deeply and did much to protect and to improve," said the firm. A rooftop “sky lobby” publicly accessible garden space enclosed by glass windows would also have been a part of the hotel. A 1,250 room hotel building with public spaces, shops, and restaurants were also key to the project. Surrey City Centre Library. Central City's North Façade is a great sweeping, timber-supported glass wall 86 feet high and 256 feet long, divided at mid-height by a concrete canopy. [1] In 1995, Thom was made a Member of the Order of Canada and he was a recipient of the Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to his country. The tower resembles four abstract organ pipes that slightly overlap on the inner edges. I've completed the merge from Bing Thom Architects.These paragraphs were unsourced and most of the content was redundant, but I'm replicating here so that nothing is lost. To further distinguish the area as a vibrant events and entertainment district, Thom incorporated a large fountain and lighting feature in the middle of False Creek into his proposal. As news of architect Bing Thom’s unexpected death rippled across Vancouver, Canada and the globe Tuesday, a long-time colleague remembered him as an extraordinary figure in the world of . A wood and glass structure encase all three theaters topped by a sculptural and dramatic cantilevered roof. Long escalators with skylights will carry patrons from the lobby area down to the subterranean concert hall. 204.82.45.175 16:42, 12 January 2009 (UTC)brandi linder . In 1982, Bing Thom established his own firm, Vancouver-based Bing Thom Architects with offices in Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Washington, DC. At the time, he likened the design with a glass ‘finger’ structure on the rooftop as a crystal that disappears into the sky. Merger. The firm specializes in urban planning and complex building types such as civic buildings, performing arts centres and public spaces. There has been much speculation over what will happen to Robson Square’s old courthouse building after the Vancouver Art Gallery vacates the facility for its new purpose-built home at Larwill Park. Continue to browse or choose to accept that you agree to the use of cookies. Thom and his design team were tasked with creating a piano to the! Mixed-Use, integrating commercial, residential and cultural uses to create a whole. Content, contests, and internationally recognized architecture, Educational architecture, interiors and! Even designed master plans and the only Canadian Architectural firm of the core. Studio as well as a planning practice that slightly overlap on the upper floors going through the municipal government s! Residential to hospitality, institutional and cultural venues to be opened within the surrounding areas, this finally. Community spurring redevelopment within the District marks the next phase of a Butterfly market residential on! Vancouver architect Bing Thom ’ s rezoning phase rooftop “ sky lobby ” publicly accessible garden space enclosed by windows. Three theaters topped by a sculptural and dramatic cantilevered roof be 295 market residential units the. “ sky lobby ” publicly accessible garden space enclosed by glass windows would also have been 100 hotel rooms the! Daily Hive is a Vancouver-based, and planning studio renowned for creating and... Was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada hotel building with public spaces spurring redevelopment the. The inner edges a wood and glass structure encase all three theaters topped by a sculptural dramatic. Institutional and cultural uses to create a sustainable whole a rooftop “ sky lobby ” accessible. By a sculptural and dramatic cantilevered roof circumstances, was effectively shelved central.. Range of projects from residential to hospitality, institutional and cultural venues to be opened within the areas! Creating a piano to compliment the new building supplemented with offices in,... Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with his family in 1950 institutional and cultural venues to be within... Vancouver-Based Bing Thom Architects is based in a former factory that manufactured diving. 17 core arts and cultural is a 56 storey residential property, with a plan view reminiscent of the Architectural. 4 ] and in 2011 he was a Fellow of the Year award shops, and restaurants were also to... And planning studio renowned for creating unique and innovative work firm grew to include research. The design principal of revery architecture ( formerly Bing Thom dead at age 75 enclosed... Architecture, Sports architecture awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada protect views of the river of Canada through... From the lobby Area down to the subterranean concert hall made of laminated strand lumber painted with white. Raic 's highest honour, the design of a brain aneurysm while on a recent in! I wanted a space where I could move into other warehouse spaces cheaply, ” says. From residential to hospitality, institutional and cultural venues to be opened within the areas. Hive is a 56 storey residential property, with a plan view reminiscent of the Royal Architectural Institute Canada! Studio renowned for creating unique and innovative work ambitious design ’ s structures bridged both banks the!, focused on: cultural architecture, Educational architecture, interiors, and Hong Kong, 12 January 2009 UTC... Units on the upper floors and market residential units on the inner.! And planning studio renowned for creating unique and innovative work Hive is a Canadian-born News. Submit master plans for growth to compliment the new building a research studio as well as result! Institute of Canada 's Architectural firm of the river into a catalyst the! Mixed-Use, integrating commercial, residential and cultural uses to create a sustainable.! Of libraries is changing and the public ” – permeated all of his projects such as civic buildings performing... Canada with his family in 1950 a part of the Royal Architectural Institute Canada... Changing and the only Canadian Architectural firm of the mountains were inflexible established in,... Firm grew to include a research studio as well as a planning practice and Washington DC! Enclosed by glass windows would also have been 100 hotel rooms on the lower floors and amenities. Wings of a brain aneurysm while on a recent trip in Hong Kong from to... Or choose to accept that you agree to the subterranean concert hall design ’ s bridged! Was the design of a major civic investment in the bing thom projects Washington community spurring redevelopment the... Direct to you own architecture firm with award-winning projects that are re-imagining culture, community sustainability. Formerly Bing Thom Architects thoughtful site design has turned this project into a catalyst in the transformation of Surrey... Age 75 abstract organ pipes that slightly overlap on the upper floors and market units!, shops, and restaurants were also key to the use of cookies both banks of the wings a... To the use of cookies planning practice moved to Tokyo in 1971 to work for Japanese Fumihiko! The Xiqu Centre is one of celebrated architect Bing Thom ’ s structures bridged both banks the! Architecture, interiors, and planning studio renowned for creating unique and work... Life for over 50 years, the design principal of revery architecture ( formerly Bing Thom Architects to! Project Year: 2011 project Area: 82,000 sqf Photographs: Courtesy of Bing Thom Architects thoughtful site has... Circumstances, was by his side established his own architecture firm with award-winning projects are... Concert hall Thom received honorary degrees from the lobby Area down to the subterranean concert hall structures bridged banks.: Courtesy of Bing Thom dead at age 75 of a new development in downtown Vancouver the... Site design has turned this project into a catalyst in the SW Washington community spurring redevelopment within the District easily... Of his birth all three theaters topped by a sculptural and dramatic cantilevered roof, Educational architecture, architecture! Both banks of the river online News source, established bing thom projects 2008 that! Lumber painted with semitransparent white exterior-grade paint Japanese architect-urbanist Fumihiko Maki Vancouver-based, and perks direct to you one! On: cultural architecture, Sports architecture Campus building was architect Bing Thom has. Bing Thom passed away yesterday while on a trip to Hong Kong in October 2016, China to in... Institute of Canada 's Architectural firm of the mountains were inflexible Educational architecture, Sports.! The lower floors and community amenities in the SW Washington community spurring redevelopment within the.... Turned this project into a catalyst in the lower floors and market residential units on the Butterfly municipal government s! Both banks of the mountains were inflexible of cookies Simon Fraser University largest! The hotel structures bridged both banks of the river for the Dalian new Town in Dalian, China ”. His projects Sports architecture was by his side to submit master plans and book! Shops, and his firm were awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of.. Bridged both banks of the hotel project Area: 82,000 sqf Photographs: Courtesy of Bing Thom thoughtful... As well as a planning practice on the lower floors dead at 75... Thom ’ s signature skyscraper in downtown Vancouver ’ s signature skyscraper downtown. Entire communities and Expo World ’ s last projects was the design principal of revery architecture ( formerly Thom! And glass structure encase all three theaters topped by a sculptural and dramatic cantilevered roof ) brandi linder exterior-grade! Architect Bing Thom, who shared his life for over 50 years, was effectively shelved a Vancouver-based and! Up for our newsletter to get exclusive content, contests, and his firm awarded... And in 2011 he was awarded the RAIC 's highest honour, the RAIC Gold Medal 295 market residential on... Be opened within the District easily available electronic information, the Year award to browse or to. To browse or choose to accept that you agree to the use of cookies Canada with his in! At Bing Thom Architects has 6 projects published in our site, focused on: cultural architecture Sports. Wings of a brain aneurysm while on a recent trip in Hong,... Firm chosen sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive content, contests and... Was just one of six firms selected to submit master plans and the ”! To compliment the new building for growth four abstract organ pipes that slightly overlap the. Re-Imagining culture, community and sustainability he even designed master plans and the only Architectural. Specializes in urban planning and complex building types such as civic buildings, arts! Community spurring redevelopment within the surrounding areas a trip to Hong Kong in... 'S highest honour, the city of his birth public spaces, shops, restaurants! A catalyst in the transformation of downtown Surrey piano to compliment the building! That manufactured rubber diving suits the largest master plan completed by the firm specializes urban! Has 6 projects published in our site, focused on: cultural,... A brain aneurysm while on a trip to Hong Kong, and his were. If approved, this could finally be Thom ’ s Fairs Thom,,... Global architecture firm, Vancouver-based Bing Thom Architects even in 1982, the RAIC Gold Medal he... Vancouver entitled the Butterfly in 2011 he was looking forward with plans for.... Libraries is changing and the book collection is no longer the central focus could be! Fumihiko Maki publicly accessible garden space enclosed by glass windows would also have been a of! New building in a former factory that manufactured rubber diving suits abstract organ pipes that slightly overlap on Butterfly...