John A. Di Castri

 

Born in Victoria, Di Castri articled with the BC Department of Public Works in 1942, then in 1948 worked briefly in the office of Birley Wade and Stockdill. In 1949 Di Castri left Victoria for three years to attend the University of Oklahoma where he studied under Bruce Goff. Returning in 1951, he opened a practice in partnership with F. W. Nichols; in 1952 started his own practice. Di Castri has played a seminal role establishing modern architecture in Victoria during the early post-war years. His Canadian Trend House design still stands as built. From 1976–80 he chaired the Canadian Housing Design Council, as well as the Community Planning Association of Canada (1958–68). Major work in Victoria includes the Institute for the Blind; Centennial Square and View Street Parkades; the Student Union Building, Cornett Building and Interfaith Chapel at the University of Victoria; St. Patrick's Church in Oak Bay; St. Joseph's Church; Strawberry Vale; Christ the King Church in Gordon Head; and the entrance foyer addition to the Royal British Columbia Museum. One of Di Castri's largest projects was the planning and building designs for Notre Dame University in Nelson, British Columbia.

 

Projects at UVic:

• Cornett Building
• Interfaith Chapel
• Student Union Building original building

In Victoria:

• Centennial Square
• Centennial Square Parkade and Shopping Arcade