April 22: Bing Thom, CM, LLD (HON), MAIBC, FRAIC, AIA, is the founding principal and creative director of Bing Thom Architects Inc., a Vancouver-based firm founded in 1980. He studied architecture at the University of British Columbia, where he received a Bachelor of Architecture. While still a student, he practiced for his instructor and mentor, Arthur Erickson, Hon. FAIA. He later completed his Master of Architecture degree at the University of California, Berkeley, where he assisted in developing one of the first Ethnic Studies academic programs in North America. In his early career, Thom designed acclaimed exhibitions and pavilions for Expo ‘86, the Worlds Fair held in Vancouver, Canada.

Since then, Bing Thom has established a reputation for innovative design on a wide range of projects ranging from interior installations to large-scale design of entire cities. More often than not, the projects are mixed-use, integrating a range of commercial, residential, and cultural uses to create a vibrant and sustainable whole. Bing believes in a holistic approach to architecture and attributes much of his success to his involvement in all aspects of building. This includes urban planning, development, design, and construction. While international in outlook, his firm’s design approach is always closely rooted to a deep understanding of the culture and history of each project’s community.

Among Bing’s many successes are the planning and urban design study for the Trinity Point Lands in Fort Worth, Texas and Central City in Surrey, British Columbia, a 1.7 million SF mixed-use development integrating an existing regional shopping mall with a major university and office development. Other projects include the Pacific Canada Pavilion for the Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts for the University of British Columbia, considered to be the finest medium-sized concert hall on the continent. He is also responsible for the master plans for the City of Dalian and the Yuxi in China; and Aberdeen Centre, an innovative three-level, glass clad retail and entertainment development in Richmond, British Columbia. The recently completed and award-winning Sunset Community Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia is of particular note for its innovative use of tilt-up concrete.

Current work in the office includes the design of Tarrant County College in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, and the renovation and expansion of Arena Stage Theater in Washington, DC. Bing Thom’s distinguished career includes being awarded Canada’s highest honor, the Order of Canada, for his contribution to architecture, as well as the Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to his country.

Bing Thom will be addressing Baltimore April 22, on the topic, Bing Thom Architects: Recent Works. He will discuss the influence of buildings on their urban environment and as catalysts for social and economic improvement, with a focus on embracing a more holistic approach to architecture. He will reference the architect as "master builder," and sustainability through "1st Principals" to include conservation of land and water, harnessing of heat and light, and fostering compact, livable, and healthy communities.

April 30: Joshua Prince-Ramus received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with distinction from Yale University in 1991 and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University in 1996. After graduating from Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Prince-Ramus joined the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in Rotterdam until he helped to land the commission for the Seattle Central Library in 1999. That achievement afforded him the position as founding partner of OMA New York, where he served as Partner-in-Charge of the Guggenheim-Hermitage Museum, Las Vegas and the Seattle Central Library. In 2006, he acquired OMA New York and renamed the firm REX.

The Seattle Central Library has been hailed as Time magazine’s 2004 Building of the Year and declared by New York Times architecture critic Herbert Muschamp as “the most exciting new building it has been my honor to review in more than 30 years of writing about architecture.” In 2005, the Seattle Central Library was awarded top honors by the American Institute of Architects, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Library Association.

Other noteworthy REX buildings currently under construction include; the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in Texas; Museum Plaza, a 62-story art institute and mixed-use development in Louisville, Kentucky; and the Istanbul headquarters for Vakko, Turkey’s preeminent fashion company. REX also recently participated in the competition to re-conceive Governors Island in New York Harbor. Additionally, they are now engaged in the competition for the new Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, as a result of their master planning and feasibility work on the City of Oslo’s Central Library, Munch Museum, and Stenersen Museum.

Acclaimed as one of the Best and Brightest 2008 by Esquire magazine, Joshua Prince-Ramus is making waves as the leader of younger architects; challenging the precepts set forth by the likes of Calatrava, Ghery, and other high profile architects. He was described as the “savior of American architecture” by Esquire magazine in its December 2008 Genius Issue. Additionally, he has been identified as one of The 20 Essential Young Architects by ICON magazine in April 2008, as a member of The New Tastemakers by House & Garden in June 2007, and as one of the “twenty most influential players in design” by Fast Company in its June 2005 Masters of Design issue.

In 2007, Joshua Prince-Ramus was the Eero Saarinen Visiting Professor at the Yale School of Architecture, and in the Spring of 2009, he will be a Visiting Professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. A member of the TED Brain Trust and speaker at the TED2006 conference, he is also an NCARB certified architect.

On April 30, Joshua Prince-Ramus will present to Baltimore, the work of his firm, REX Architecture. He will not only share his work, but also discuss topics ranging from theoretical aims of architecture, business planning, designing under practical constraints, and collaborative design.

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