BERRINGTON, Adrian (1887-1923), a talented designer, teacher, writer, delineator and painter, was born in London, England and educated at the University of Liverpool where his accomplished drawings for 'A Design of an Open Air Swimming Bath' were entered in the competition for the Tite Prize (Builder [London], xc, 28 April 1906, 467, descrip. and plate illus.). He returned to London in 1907 and entered the office of R. Frank Atkinson, and spent his evenings studying at the Royal Academy. In 1908 he was one of 28 competitors for the prestigious Soane Medallion, sponsored by the R.I.B.A., and his 'Design for a Customs House' received an Honourable Mention and a prize of 5 Guineas (Builder [London], xciv, 25 Jan. 1908, 86, descrip.). The following year, he again competed for the Soane Medallion, and his drawings for 'A Casino' were awarded the Second Prize and a purse of 20 Guineas (R.I.B.A. Journal [London], xvi, 6 Feb. 1909, 232, descrip.; Architectural Review [London], xxv, Feb. 1909, 57). In 1910 he was one of 17 competitors in a new round of submissions for the annual Soane Medallion, and his scheme for 'A Shakespeare Memorial Theatre' was singled out by the jury as 'an extremely clever design', netting him a prize of 10 Guineas and a Certificate of Honourable Mention (R.I.B.A. Journal, xvii, 5 Feb. 1910, 289, descrip., and plate illus.; Architect & Contract Reporter [London], lxxxiii, 21 Jan. 1910, 41, 47, descrip.).
In 1911, while studying at the Royal Academy, he exhibited an elaborate Edwardian design for 'A Nobleman's Mansion' at the Academy which was subsequently published in 1911 (Builder [London], c, 14 April 1911, 458, descrip. & plate illus.). An equally impressive series of drawings for 'A Hall for a City Company' appeared later that same year (Builder [London], x, 15 Dec. 1911, 694 & plate illus.; 29 Dec. 1911, 776 & plate illus.). He may have been working as a freelance delineator in London. In 1912 his elaborate perspective drawing signed "AB" was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1912, showing the design by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the country mansion of Athelston Riley on the Isle of Jersey. Berrington's talent was specifically cited when this drawing appeared in Building News [London], cii, 3 May 1912, 618, 640-41, illus. plate. After travelling in Europe he joined Prof. Patrick Geddes, the eminent town planner, and was appointed assistant professor of civic design at the University of London.
While serving with British Forces during WWI he was seriously wounded during two separate battles and returned to his private practice in 1919. The following year he entered the competition for a new Master Development Plan for Paris and obtained two prizes, one for a Comprehensive Plan of the Paris Region, which received the Third Premium, and a Fourth Premium for a Comprehensive Plan for the City itself. For the latter, he obtained a premium of 6,000 Fr. for his effort (American Inst. of Architects Journal [Washington], viii, Oct. 1920, 365-67, illus.; Town Planning Review [London], viii, Dec. 1920, 163-70). In October 1921 he was invited to Toronto to join the staff of the School of Practical Science at the University of Toronto where he lectured in civic and town planning. During his stay in Canada he collaborated with Arthur W. McConnell on a design for a Women's Gymnasium, Hoskin Avenue at Devonshire Place, University of Toronto, TORONTO, ONT., 1921. The project was never built but a full set of watercolour presentation drawings by Berrington have survived (University of Toronto Archives, A65-0001, Folders 061-066). His essays on architectural education and town planning appeared in several Canadian publications (Const., xiv, Nov. 1921, 342-4; Journal of the Town Planning Institute of Canada, ix, April 1922, 12-14).
Berrington died in London, Engl. in early 1923 as the result of his war injuries (obit. Telegram [Toronto], 5 April 1923, 19; Toronto Star, 5 April 1923, 19; Architects' Journal [London], lvii, 18 April 1923, 707; biog. in Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, i, 169). His successor at the University of Toronto was Eric R. Arthur. Berrington's talent as a draughtsman and delineator was recognized in a posthumous exhibition held at the Architectural Association in London in early 1925 (Architect's Journal [London], lxi, 13 May 1925, 741-2, illus.)