John Cresswell Parkin

John Cresswell Parkin

John Cresswell Parkin, architect (b to Canadian parents at Sheffield, Eng 24 Mar 1922, d at Toronto, Ont 22 Nov 1988). After graduating in architecture from U of Man and studies at Harvard under Walter Gropius, Parkin joined John B. PARKIN (no relation) in 1947. As senior partner and partner-in-charge of design, Parkin oversaw the creation of a large number of outstanding works whose style was generally rectilinear, undecorated and classical modern. John B. Parkin moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s to found a US practice, leaving John C. Parkin as CEO of the holding corporation which owned both the Canadian and US architectural firms.

In 1970 John C. Parkin established the Parkin Partnership when other partners of the John B. Parkin firm continued that practice as Neish, Owen Roland and Roy. The partnership won the competition for the design of a new National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, 1976), though that design was not built, and also that for the additions to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Through his career, Parkin was an energetic and influential advocate for modern design, not just in architecture but in industrial and urban design as well, and a mentor for the architects under his supervision. In 1987 a new firm, Parkin Architects Ltd, was formed and J.C. Parkin retired from active practice.