Award-winning Australian architect John Andrews has died aged 88. The Australian Institute of Architects issued a statement on 28 March saying it was “saddened” by his passing.
Born in Sydney in 1933, Andrews was known internationally for his work in Canada, the United States and Australia.
He designed significant buildings including Harvard University’s Gund Hall (1968), the Miami Seaport Passenger Terminal (1967), the Canadian National Tower (1970) and Australia’s Cameron Offices and Toad Hall in Canberra.
The death of the University of Sydney and Harvard graduate was announced on 24 March.
The Institute’s national president Tony Giannone said Andrews was a “giant” of the Australian architecture community and one of Australia’s first internationally recognized architects.
Andrews established his practice John Andrew Architects in Toronto, Canada, in the 1960s, where he also taught the local university. He designed a number of university residences as well as higher education facilities across Canada and the United States.
In 1967, Andrews received Canada’s Centennial Medal followed by the Arnold W. Brunner Award in 1971. He received both the American Institute of Architects Honour Award and the Bartlett Award in 1973.
He returned to Australia in the 1970s and established John Andrews International. His Australian buildings also include Sydney’s King George Tower (1970), Garden Island Parking Structure (1980), Eugowra Farmhouse (1980), Little Bay Housing (1981), Perth’s Merlin Hotel (1983), the Sydney Convention Centre (1989), the World Trade Centre and Hotel in Melbourne (1989), and the Veterinary Science complex for Sydney University (1995).
In 1980, he received the RAIA Gold Medal and he was also presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sydney. The following year, Andrews was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to architecture.
Giannone said the industry ought to reflected on the work and legacy of Andrews’ “outstanding” contribution to the profession. “We often fail to listen to the elders and statesman of our profession,” he said. “We are too busy trying to disrupt everything and anybody. Perhaps the greatest lost opportunity of the year was not to reconnect with John Andrews.”
