COON, Burwell Ranscier (1892-1981), son of Stephen B. Coon, was born in London, Ont. on 5 May 1892 and educated at public schools in London and Toronto. He graduated from the Dept. of Architecture at the University of Toronto in 1913 and worked briefly in New York City for John Russell Pope, the master of the classical revival style in America. Coon returned to Toronto in late 1913 and joined his father in partnership (see list works under S.B. Coon & Son). Together they gained a well-deserved reputation as the most prolific designers of new school buildings in Ontario. When his father retired in 1930 Burwell continued to design major projects while using the old firm name of S.B. Coon & Son even after the death of his father in 1936. From 1938 onward his professional career was devoted almost entirely to the design of educational buildings in southern, western and northern Ontario.
Unlike his father, who had relied on classical revival themes in his designs after 1920, Burwell introduced a modernist aesthetic to his institutional commissions, a style particularly evident in the stripped simplicity of the design for Woodstock Collegiate (1939). Coon was held in high regard by his peers; he was elected President of the Royal Architectural Inst. of Canada in 1940 and again in 1941, and was later nominated as a Fellow of the Royal Inst. of British Architects in London, England in 1942. He retired from practice in 1962 and died in Toronto on 2 July 1981 (obit. Toronto Star, 5 July 1981, A4; biog. and port Who's Who in Canada, 1936-37, 229; R.A.I.C. Journal, xvii, March 1940, 30; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects)
S.B. COON & SON (works designed by Burwell R. Coon)
PORT ELGIN, ONT., a burial chapel at Sanctuary Park Cemetery, Eastwood Drive at Elgin Street, 1936; still standing in 2023 (Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times, 30 Sept. 1936, 13, t.c.; and 23 Oct. 1936, 2)
GEORGIAN BAY, ONT., summer residence for Montague A. Wadds, 1936 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xiv, Feb. 1937, 22; xvi, July 1939, 159, illus.; C.H.G., xiv, July-Aug. 1937, 22, illus.)
TRENTON, ONT., major addition to College Street Public School, 1938 (C.R., li, 20 July 1938, 33)
TORONTO, ONT., 'Robin Hill', a residence for Burwell R. Coon, architect, Strathgowan Crescent, 1938 (C.H.G., xvi, Jan.-Feb. 1939, 25, illlus.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., major addition to Collegiate & Vocational School, Riddell Street, 1939 (C.R., lii, 22 March 1939, 41; R.A.I.C. Journal, xviii, June 1941, 101, illus.)
TORONTO, ONT., Rolph Road Public School, in Leaside, 1939 (C.R., lii, 8 March 1939, 28; R.A.I.C. Journal, xviii, June 1941, 100, illus.; xxi, Nov. 1944, 256, illus.)
RIDGETOWN, ONT., High School, 1940 (C.R., liii, 24 April 1940, 22, t.c.)
COBOURG, ONT, major addition to Collegiate Institute, 1939-40 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xvii, Oct. 1940, 180, illlus.)
TORONTO, ONT., major addition to Etobicoke High School, Montgomery Road, 1945 (C.R., lviii, March 1945, 172)
SARNIA, ONT., Hanna Memorial Public School, 1945-46 (C.R., lviii, Oct. 1945, 132; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiv, Oct. 1947, 344-5, illus.)
TORONTO, ONT., Leaside High School, Eglinton Avenue East near Bayview Avenue, 1946 (C.R., lix, June 1946, 136; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiv, Oct. 1947, 346-7, illus.)
FERGUS, ONT., High School, 1946-47 (C.R., lix, Aug. 1946, 157)
HARROW, ONT., High School, 1946-47 (C.R., lix, Dec. 1946, 78)
TORONTO, ONT., Northlea Public School, Rumsey Road, in Leaside, 1947 (C.R., lx, July 1947, 103; Financial Post [Toronto], 24 Sept. 1949, 10, illus. in advert.; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, July 1950, 26, illus. in advert.)
FORT WILLIAM, ONT., public school in the Hyde Park area, 1947 (C.R., lx, Sept. 1947, 172)
LONDON TOWNSHIP, ONT., East Middlesex High School, 1948 (C.R., lxi, Feb. 1948, 167)
SUDBURY, ONT., public school, 1948 (C.R., lxi, April 1948, 144)
TILBURY, ONT., high school, 1948 (C.R., lxi, June 1948, 160)
WALLACEBURG, ONT., high school, 1949 (C.R., lxii, March 1949, 139)
STRATHROY, ONT., public school, 1950 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, May 1950, 176, illus.)
BARRIE, ONT., public school, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, March 1950, 136)
SUDBURY, ONT., Princess Anne Public School, Horobin Street, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, April 1950, 124)
LEAMINGTON, ONT., high school, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, Aug. 1950, 238)
HANOVER, ONT., public school, 1950-51 (C.R., lxiii, Aug. 1950, 238; Owen Sound Daily Sun Times, 12 Dec. 1950, 12, illus. & descrip.; and 13 Dec. 1950, 18)
SUTTON, ONT., public school, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, Aug. 1950, 240)
WALKERTON, ONT., high school, 1950 (C.R., lxiii,, Sept. 1950, 124)
AURORA, ONT., high school, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, Sept. 1950, 126)
NORWICH, ONT., public school, 1950-51 (C.R., lxiii, Dec. 1950, 106)