Symonds, Robert McDowall | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

SYMONDS, Robert McDowall (1892-1963), active in Edmonton, Alberta in partnership with Richard P. Blakey (see list of works under Blakey & Symonds). Born in Edinburgh, he was educated there and received a Diploma in architecture from the Edinburgh College of Art. He articled with the prominent Edinburgh architect David McArthy (1854-1926) from 1906 to 1910, and worked briefly for two other local firms there while studying at the College of Art. Symonds emigrated to Canada in 1913, arriving in Quebec City where he worked for Thomas R. Peacock, FRIBA from 1913 to 1916. After serving overseas during WWI, he returned to Canada and settled in Toronto where he worked as a draftsman for a succession of firms including Horwood & White (1919-20), for the City Architect’s Office (1920-23), for Burden & Gouinlock (1923-25), and for Chapman & Oxley (1926-27).
For unknown reasons, he decided to move to Moose Jaw, Sask. and worked for R.G. Bunyard, assisting him with the design of the Grant Hall Hotel in that city. In late 1928 he moved again, this time to Edmonton, Alta. where he was invited by R.P. Blakey to form a partnership (R.A.I.C. Journal, v, Nov. 1928, p. xxx, news item). In 1932 Symonds was elected President of the Alberta Assoc. of Architects and served a term from 1932 to 1934. The partnership of Blakey & Symonds was dissolved in late 1934, and Symonds then returned to Great Britain where he continued his career in London after 1939 (inf. Albert Assoc. of Architects, Membership Application 4 Sept. 1928).