Ferdinand Marani

Canadian architect Ferdinand Marani received an Honorable Mention at the 1948 London Olympics in the Art Competitions in the category Architectural Design for his work Model for “Stadium for the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario,” together with his British-born compatriot Robert Morris. The stadium hosted many of Canada’s most important sporting events, as well as fairs, concerts, and other major events. The building, with the new main tribune erected in 1948, was already the fourth at this site. The stadium was then enlarged and rebuilt several times; again, respective plans were submitted by Marani & Morris. In 1989, the last game took place there and in 1999 the building was demolished. In 2007, the “BMO Field” was built here as the first football-only stadium in Canada.

Marani studied architecture at the University of Toronto and devoted himself to the conservative Classical and Neo-Georgian styles of architecture. Since 1919, he ran an architectural office in Toronto with changing partners, amongst them Robert Morris for more than 30 years. His most famous works were the Bank of Canada in Ottawa as well as the headquarters of the Canadian Troops in Washington, and the Medical Arts Building in Toronto. Marani served in both World Wars.