Robert Morris

Canadian architect Robert Morris received an Honorable Mention for his work Model for “Stadium for the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario” at the 1948 Art Competitions in the category Architectural Design, along with his compatriot Ferdinand Marani. 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.

After World War I, Morris studied at McGill University in Montréal and continued his education in New York. In 1929 he became a partner of Ferdinand Marani and spent almost 30 years working for the Bank of Canada in various projects, from designing temporary wooden buildings during World War II to the original, and later enlarged, head office. Between 1952-54, Morris served as President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. In 1958 he was awarded the Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects.