Barry V. Downs

 

Born in Vancouver, Barry Vance Downs graduated in architecture from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1954. He worked with the firm Thompson, Berwick, Pratt and Partners and with Fred Thornton Hollingsworth in Vancouver. In 1969, after working independently for a couple years, he formed the firm Downs Archambault Architects with Richard B. Archambault.

 

Downs's work could be characterized as being carefully planned buildings that are simple and undecorated but highly conscious of its surroundings. He designed the Sedgewick Building at UVic. Other projects include the North Vancouver Civic Centre and Britannia Community Services Centre; the Lester Pearson College of the Pacific in Pedder Bay, Vancouver Island; high-density neighbourhoods on or adjacent to the Expo lands in Vancouver; the Langley campus of Kwantlen College; and the Campbell River Museum.

 

Project at UVic:

• Sedgewick Building