Bing Thom Award

Bing Thom (1940-2016) was a Vancouver-based architect of international renown, whose cultural, educational and commercial work has benefited communities in major cities across Canada, as well as the United States, China and Spain.

Over his career, Bing Thom was honoured with many awards and accolades, notably being made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1995 and as the recipient of the RAIC Gold Medal in 2011. His career highlights are listed below) )

The Bing Thom Endowment Fund was established in 2024, funded by a 2022 donation from the Bing Thom Foundation (formerly known as the Transcendence Foundation), for the purpose of awarding scholarships, called the Bing Thom Awards, to students registered in a Canadian School of Architecture, in the RAIC Syllabus program or in architecture programs at the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The essay competition reflects Bing Thom’s personal values and his belief in the higher power of architecture. These values and beliefs were inspired by Henry Elder who, as Head of the UBC School of Architecture from 1962 – 1974., moved its focus from ‘the production of architects’ to ‘the understanding of architecture’. He firmly believed that “students should not lose sight of their real purpose in changing civilization”.

Crediting Elder’s influence, Bing Thom later stated: “I feel that architecture really has the potential to transform communities… makes people realize that they’re bigger than they are, that they’re able to do more than they do.” This belief also inspires the call for proposals for the Bing Thom Award, and the subject of the essay.

The Bing Thom Award is open to Individual students (including international students) registered in a Canadian School of Architecture or the RAIC Syllabus Program for the academic year in which the awards are offered. Also eligible are students enrolled over the same period in architecture programs at the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The goal is to give two awards of $3,500 every second year. The next awards will be offered in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The essays submitted will be evaluated based on:

• The clear relation of the ideas expressed in the Call for Proposals;
• The originality and strength of the ideas expressed;
• The clarity and style of the written language.

The submission requirement for these awards is a personal essay of approximately 800 words in response to a question related to Bing Thom’s belief in the transformative power of architecture.

The specific question will be published with the Call for Submissions.

In addition, submissions must include:

• Documentation confirming the applicant’s student status;
• A completed image index, providing captions and full credit information for each image, if applicable.

Applications are to be submitted through the RAIC online submission platform.

Entries can be submitted either in English or in French.

All entries will be retained by the RAIC Foundation for publication, exhibition and archival purposes.

Note: Once you have started the online submission process, you may ‘save’ and come back at a later date to complete your submission (prior to the submission deadline).

Questions?
awards-prix@raic.org

The RAIC Foundation Trustees shall appoint a jury of at least five persons, including:

• At least one Trustee of the RAIC Foundation, who shall act as Chair;
• At least one full-time faculty member in a Canadian School of Architecture;
• At least one member of the College of Fellows of the RAIC.

The Trustees will also appoint a professional advisor to review and confirm the eligibility of all submissions and attend the jury meeting. The advisor will offer clarification when appropriate, but will not form part of the jury.

Submissions must be received before 10:00 p.m. ET, on set deadline date. Entrants are solely responsible for timely submissions. This date and time are firm without exceptions.

The next call for submissions will take place in the fall of 2026, with a submission deadline of March 2027.

Mark your calendars and check back closer to the date for more information.