Ronald Thom

Ronald James Thom, OC (May 15, 1923 – October 29, 1986) was a Canadian architect. He is one of the most admired Canadian designers of universities for his two masterpieces, Massey College and Trent University's riverside campus.

Early years

He was born in Penticton, British Columbia, the son of James Thom and Elena Myrtle Fennel. Thom served as an aviator with the RCAF during World War II, returned and graduated from the Vancouver School of Art in 1947. He never went to architecture school but apprenticed at Thompson, Berwick & Pratt, where he quickly became recognized as an unusually gifted drawer and designer. He was the primary designer of the B.C. Electric Building (now known as The Electra) on Burrard Street, in Vancouver, British Columbia. and also designed notable houses in the Vancouver area, several of which won Massey Awards, the country's top award for architecture. In 1957, he became a registered architect at Thompson, Berwick and Pratt and a partner shortly afterward.