Rennie, Hugh Graham | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

RENNIE, Hugh Graham (1909-1957) was active in St. John's, Nfld. where he designed one of the first distinctive modernist landmarks in the province, that of The Centre Building, Church Hill, ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., 1948 (inf. W.J. Ryan, St. John's). Rennie was born in St. John's on 10 September 1909 and educated there at Bishop Field College. He graduated with honours from the Liverpool School of Architecture in 1932 and worked in offices in Ireland and England until 1940 when he joined the Royal Navy. He began to practice in St. John's in 1946 and formed a partnership the following year with Robert F. Horwood. His other works include an office building for Imperial Oil Co., New Gower Street, ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., c. 1948, the U.S. Memorial Hospital at ST. LAWRENCE, NFLD., and the Ayre's Food Store, Hamilton Avenue, ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., c. 1950. His essay entitled 'Domestic Architecture in Newfoundland' appeared in the R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, March 1950, 97-8, and included a modernist design by his firm of Rennie & Horwood. Rennie died in St. John's on 9 May 1957 (obit. Evening Telegram [St. John's], 14 May 1957, 5; biog. R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, March 1950, 116).