ARCHIBALD, Ian Thurston (1903-1971) was one of several Quebec architects who introduced a progressive version of modernism to Canadian architecture in the Montreal region after 1935. Born in Montreal on 6 September 1903 he was the son of the eminent architect John S. Archibald who no doubt played an influential role in the development of his career. He attended the Montreal High School and worked in his father's office during each summer from 1921 to 1928 while attending courses in the Department of Architecture at McGill University. He graduated from McGill in 1928 and in that year he joined his father in Montreal as a draftsman where he remained for two years until 1930 when he undertook to represent the firm in Vancouver on the site of the new Hotel Vancouver being erected by the Canadian National Railway. He returned to Montreal in early 1934 and upon the death of his father in March of that year he established the firm of John S. Archibald Associates in collaboration with Hugh P. Illsley and John A. Currie, both of whom had been working in the office since 1927. In April 1937 the firm was renamed Archibald & Illsley, and among the other works they produced was the striking Art Deco design for the flagship store of the F.W. Woolworth Co. on Ste. Catherine Street West in 1938. Their partnership flourished and in late 1949 they were joined by Francis O. Templeton. The firm was dissolved after 1970, and Ian T. Archibald died in Montreal on 10 December 1971 (death notice in the Gazette [Montreal] 14 Dec. 1971, 23; biography and portrait in Who's Who In Canada, 1934-35, 1129-30; inf. from Ontario Association of Architects)
ARCHIBALD & ILLSLEY
(works in Montreal unless otherwise noted)
PINE AVENUE WEST, residence for W.F. Carsley, 1935 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
CORNWALL, ONT., Cornwall Community Arena, Water Street East, 1936; demol. 2012 (C.R., vol. 50, 22 July 1936, 32; 2 June 1937, 27; Gazette [Montreal], 16 Nov. 1936, 10, illus. & descrip.; inf. Scott Edwards)
VILLE LASALLE, QUE., factory for the O'Neill European Machine Co., off Stirling Avenue, 1937 (C.R., l, 26 May 1937, 147; R.A.I.C. Journal, xviii, April 1941, 66, illus.)
(with Grattan Thompson) MONTREAL CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL, Kent Avenue, addition, 1937-38 ; new wing, 1950 (C.R., l, 12 May 1937, 37; Canadian Hospital, xv, Nov. 1938, 15-18, 46, illus. & descrip.; R.A.I.C. Journal, xx, June 1943, 88-89, illus.)
F.W. WOOLWORTH DEPARTMENT STORE, Ste. Catherine Street West at McGill College Avenue, 1937-38; demol. 1987 (C.R., li, 26 Oct. 1938, 23-33, illus. & descrip.; Architectural Review [London], lxxxv, April 1939, lix, illus. in advert.; Montreal, Les Magasins Les Cinemas, 1988, 249-51, illus.; Tim Morawetz, Art Deco Architecture Across Canada, 2017, 183, illus. & descrip.)
VILLE LASALLE, QUE., warehouse for Ralston Purina Co., Newman Avenue, 1938 (C.R., li, 4 Jan. 1938, 30)
WESTMOUNT, QUE., Macy's Drug Store and Dining Room, Sherbrooke Street West at Victoria Avenue, 1938 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
KINGSTON, ONT., Colonial Coach Terminal, Bath Road, 1938 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
MONTEBELLO, QUE., cabin for Ian T. Archibald, 1939 (C.H.G., xvi, July 1939, 28, illus.)
WESTMOUNT, QUE., residence for Thurston D. Archibald, Upper Belmont Avenue, 1940 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
ST. PAUL l'HERMIT, QUE., wartime tract housing, 1941 (inf. H. Illsley)
LACHINE, QUE., Dominion Engineering Ltd., Lorne Avenue, additions to office building, 1941, 1946 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
LACHINE, QUE., Dominion Bridge Co., cafeteria, 1942; addition to office building, 1946 (C.R., lv, 18 Nov. 1942, 42; lix, June 1946, 140)
WESTMOUNT, QUE., Unity Boys' Club, Greene Avenue, 1944-45 (C.R., lvii, 22 Nov. 1944, 30)
(with Fetherstonhaugh & Durnford), ST. GEORGE'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Stanley Street, new Parish Hall, 1945 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
STE. THERESE, QUE., residence of Ralph B. Hunt, 1945 (C.H.G., xxii, Oct. 1945, 28-29, illus.)
WEST HILL HIGH SCHOOL, Somerled Avenue at Draper Avenue, 1946 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
NORDIC HOSIERY LTD., St. Ambroise Street, new yarn mill and factory, 1946-47 (Financial Post [Toronto], 26 Oct. 1946, 8)
(with A. Leslie Perry) SHAWINIGAN WATER & POWER CO., a 12 storey office building, Dorchester Boulevard West at Beaver Hall Hill, 1946-48 (Financial Post [Toronto], 10 Aug. 1946, 2, descrip.; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvi, Sept. 1949, 280-83, illus.)
POSTAL STATION B, University Street at Cathcart Street, 1949-50 (Canadian Builder, i, Nov.-Dec.1951, 20, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at McGill University, Canadian Architecture Coll.; inf. Hugh P. Illsley)
MONKLANDS HIGH SCHOOL, Somerled Avenue at Draper Avenue, 1949-50 (dwgs. at McGill University, Canadian Architecture Coll.)
HILL PARK CIRCLE, residence for Henri Gagne, 1949 (inf. Hugh P. Illsley)