GARROW, Robert Thompson (1884-1952), a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, was born on 26 February 1884 and educated at Robert Gordon's Technical College and at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen. He articled with a local architect James Souttar (in 1903-07), then emigrated to Canada in early 1907 and settled in Vancouver where he joined the office of Hooper & Watkins. In June of that year he was transferred to their Victoria branch and '...was placed in charge of Mr. Hooper's Victoria office during which time until 1911 I designed and supervised all work in the office' (signed A.I.B.C. Application Form from Garrow dated 20 Sept. 1920). He also held a part-time position as architectural assistant and construction manager for Skene & Christie, Contractors. After WWI he operated his own office in Vancouver (1918-22), then returned to Seattle to work for the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co. (in 1922-26), and re-opened an office in Vancouver in 1926.
His best know work in Canada was the Hotel Georgia, an austere and undistinguished Georgian revival landmark that lacked the refinement and distinctive profile of its neighbour, the Hotel Vancouver (1929; completed 1939). Garrow collaborated with John Graham Sr., a Seattle architect, to complete this commission that opened in May 1927. Garrow remained in Vancouver until 1932, then moved back to Seattle where his credits as architect and engineer include the Dexter Horton Building, the Boeing Airplane Co. plants at Renton and Seattle, the Cushman Dam, and Spring Apartment Hotel. He was also general superintendent for the Austin Co. for several years. Garrow died at Bellevue, Wash. on 11 March 1952
(obit. Seattle Times, 13 March 1952; biog. and port. Who's Who in Canada, 1927, 1568; biog. and list of works D. Luxton, Building the West: The Early Architects of British Columbia, 2003, 464-5, 501; inf. Architectural Inst. Of British Columbia)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence for Carl Adams, Oak Bay, 1911 (list of works from A.I.B.C. Application Form)
VICTORIA, B.C., stores and apartments for E.B. Jones, Cook Street, 1911 (list of works from A.I.B.C. Application Form)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence for Alexander W. Elliot, Victoria Avenue, Oak Bay, 1912 (S. Stark, Oak Bay's Heritage Buildings, 1986, 100, illus.)
VANCOUVER, B.C., Shaughnessy Heights Golf Club House, Oak Street near 33rd Avenue, 1912-14; demol. (list of works from A.I.B.C. Application Form)
VANCOUVER, B.C., Lester Dancing Academy, Davie Street, 1915 (list of works from A.I.B.C. Application Form)
CHEHALIS, WASH., Security State Bank, 1916 (list of works from A.I.B.C. Application Form)
VANCOUVER, B.C., Hotel Georgia, West Georgia Street at Howe Street, 1926-27; renovated and restored 1998 (C.R., xl, 7 April 1926, 343, illus. & descrip.; xli, 22 June 1927, 637, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. Vancouver City Archives)
COMPETITIONS
VICTORIA, B.C., Y.M.C.A. Building, Blanchard Street at View Street, 1909. The office of R.T. Garrow of Vancouver was one of 6 local architects who submitted a design (Evening Post (Victoria), 16 July 1909, 5). His submission was passed over and H.S. Griffith was declared the winner.
LONDON, ENGLAND, The London Daily Mail Ideal Home Competition, 1921. Garrow was one of nine Vancouver architects who submitted designs in this international competition open to all architects from Canada and the British Commonwealth (Vancouver Daily World, 7 Dec. 1921, 19, descrip. of the competition). The first prize was $1,500 and a free trip to London. It is unclear who won the competition for this annual event which was first staged in 1908.
VANCOUVER, B.C., Canadian Memorial Church, West 16th Avenue, 1922. Garrow was among 13 architects who submitted plans for this Vancouver landmark (Vancouver Daily World, 4 July 1922, 9). He received the Second Premium for his effort. The winner was McCarter, Nairne & Co., with Robert Chadney.