The Architectural Institute of British Columbia’s (AIBC) Architecture Centre Gallery is hosting ‘Building Beyond Buildings’, an exhibit that pays tribute to the work of Bing Thom Architects’ iconic founder, Bing Thom. Opening on July 20, 2017, the exhibit is a visual journey featuring some of Thom’s award-winning works as well as the firm’s latest projects.
“Bing Thom was a true visionary who demonstrated how architecture impacts and enriches our communities. We are delighted to host such a visually stunning exhibit in the Architecture Centre Gallery. Our hope is that guests will leave with a greater appreciation of the role architects play in shaping our cities,” says Mark Vernon, CEO of the Architectural Institute of B.C.
Woven throughout the exhibit are two lines of exploration: cultural sustainability and material assembly. The title of the exhibit, ‘Building Beyond Buildings,’ is an expression borrowed from the firm’s founder, Bing Thom Architect AIBC, who passed away unexpectedly in 2016. The title describes the power and potential of architecture to transcend brick-and-mortar and shine light and vitality into communities. Thom believed architecture enriched the lives of those it touched and that buildings contributed to part of a living ecosystem.
“This exhibit is a celebration of Bing Thom, the firm, and the journey we have shared with him. It is an expression of gratitude for the values Mr. Thom instilled in the practice and for these same values that will carry the firm forward,” says design principal Venelin Kokalov at Bing Thom Architects.
Bing Thom studied architecture at the University of British Columbia and the University of California at Berkeley. He was a student of famed architect Arthur Erickson and founded Bing Thom Architects in 1982. The firm has designed numerous award-winning projects in the Lower Mainland and abroad. Local landmarks include the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC, Guilford Aquatic Centre, and the Surrey City Centre Library. His influence lives on through the generations of architects he mentored and through the buildings he infused with his design vision.
Presented in the AIBC’s newly renovated 1,000 sq. ft. gallery space, the exhibit will be on display from July 20 through to August 21, 2017. Admission is free and open to the public Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
