Erickson, Arthur, 1924-2009

Canadian architect Arthur Charles Erickson was a native of Vancouver, BC, who studied architecture at McGill University (B.Arch 1950). Erickson's training at McGill primed him in the architectural principles set forth by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Le Corbusier. Erickson formulated his own personal architectural aesthetic which proceeded from the influence of the Moderns as well as from extensive travel in Europe and eastern Asia. Erickson formed a partnership with Geoffrey Massey in 1963 and, with him, built Simon Fraser University in Vancouver (1969). In 1972 the firm of Arthur Erickson Architects was formed. The firm executed such major commissions as the Museum of Anthropology (1974-1976) and the Provincial Government offices (1974-1979), both in Vancouver. The firm completed the design of the New Canadian Chancery in Washington in 1990. Erickson also worked extensively on projets in the Middle East.

Arthur Charles Erickson, né en 1924 à Vancouver (Colombie-Britannique), a étudié l'architecture à l'Université McGill. La formation que Erickson a reçue à McGill l'a initié aux principes architecturaux mis de l'avant par Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer et Le Corbusier. Erickson a formulé sa propre esthétique architecturale sous l'influence des grands du modernisme de même qu'à l'issue de nombreux voyages en Europe et en Extrême-Orient. Il s'est associé à Geoffrey Massey en 1963 et a construit avec lui l'Université Simon Fraser de Vancouver (1969). En 1972, le cabinet d'Arthur Erickson Architects a été formé et a exécuté des commandes importantes comme le musée d'Anthropologie (1974-1976) et les bureaux du gouvernement provincial à Vancouver (1974-1979). En 1990, le cabinet a terminé la nouvelle chancellerie canadienne à Washington.

A longer biographical history can be found at: https://wayback.archive-it.org/22619/20240409142942/https://cac.mcgill.ca/erickson/AboutAE.htm

• Arthur Erickson: the Middle East Projects, A Guide to the Archive. Les projets du Moyen-Orient, guide du fonds. Montreal: Canadian Architecture Collection, Blackader-Lauterman Library of Architecture and Art, McGill University, 1999.
• Erickson, Arthur. The Architecture of Arthur Erickson. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1988. This book takes a broad look at Erickson's career and covers many projects (including unsuccessful competition entries) from the 1950s to the late 1980s. Includes numerous photographs, floorplans, elevations etc.
• Arthur Erickson AIA Gold Medal 1986. The American Institute of Architects, 1986.
• Architecture in Process: Arthur Erickson Selected Works. Co-hosted by The Architectural Society of China and the College of Architecture, Tsing Hua University, Beijing. 1985
• Shapiro, Barbara E. Arthur Erickson: Selected Projects 1971-1985: an Exhibition. New York: Center for Inter-American Relations, 1985.
• Iglauer, Edith. Seven Stones: A Portrait of Arthur Erickson, Architect. British Columbia: Harbour Publishing, 1981. A thorough review of Erickson's career to 1981, including some Middle East projects. Includes numerous photographs, plans, drawings.
• Erickson, Arthur. The Architecture of Arthur Erickson. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1975. A photographic essay featuring twelve projects, of which, seven are private homes, two are universities, two are Canadian Expo pavilions, and one is an office building. Includes floor plans and sections.

Updated 11 October 2023