Raymond Tait (Ray) Affleck (20 November 1922 – 16 March 1989) was a Canadian architect. He was born on 20 November 1922 in Penticton, British Columbia.[1] He died in Montreal on 16 March 1989.[2] One of the founders of Montreal-based architectural firm Arcop, he also taught at leading universities in Canada and the United States.
He opened the R.T. Affleck independent architectural practice in 1952,[1] and in 1955 participated in the creation of an architecture firm together with Guy Desbarats, Dimitri Dimakopoulos, Fred Lebensold and Hazen Sise. This firm changed its name to Arcop Associates, Architects and Planners in 1970.[5]
Major projects
Projects undertaken by Arcop ranged from Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver (1955) to St John's (Newfoundland) Arts and Cultural Centre (1967). These projects helped to establish Affleck as an influential architect.[1] Between 1964 and 1968 Affleck was mainly engaged on the Place Bonaventure complex in central Montreal,[6] which has been described as "a somewhat forbidding example of Brutalism".[7] Other prominent projects included Place Ville Marie (1956-1965) and Maison Alcan (1983) in Montreal.
In projects such as Place Bonaventure, Affleck sought to include indoor pedestrian routes and atria, design features suited to a cold climate.[2] The aim was an integrated architectural plan encompassing buildings, streets and main highways.
At Maison Alcan, a restored historic hotel and greystone houses on Sherbrooke Street are joined to the modern glass and aluminum-clad structure behind by means of a glazed atrium. Market Square (Saint John, 1983) is another important conservation and infill project that demonstrates the application of Affleck's urban theories.[2]
Personal life
Affleck married Betty Ann Henley in 1950. They had five children,[1] including animator Neil Affleck, Family Physician Ewan Affleck and architect Gavin Affleck.
