Ernest Cormier

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Ernest Cormier OC (December 5, 1885-January 1, 1980) was a Quebec engineer and architect who spent much of his career in the Montreal area, erecting notable examples of Art Deco and International style architecture. He first graduated as an engineer from Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal and then studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris where he received the Prix de Rome in 1914.

Related Topics:
December 5 - 1885 - January 1 - 1980 - Quebec - Engineer - Architect - Montreal - Art Deco - International style - Architecture - Ecole des Beaux Arts - Paris

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His major work is the central building of the Université de Montréal on the North slope of Mount Royal. This huge example of the Art Deco style was built between World War I and the middle of World War II and kept in a nearly pristine shape over the decades. The only major destruction of his designs took place within the interior spaces. They occurred in the 1970s when the great multistory hall of the central library was filled up with several smaller, one story rooms for the faculty of medicine and its library.

Related Topics:
Université de Montréal - Mount Royal - World War I - World War II

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Cormier's own house, on Montreal's avenue des Pins, is one of the finest examples of an Art Deco home in the world. Pierre Trudeau purchased the building and lived there following his retirement until his death in 2000.

Related Topics:
Pierre Trudeau - 2000

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Cormier is also responsible for the magnificent Supreme Court of Canada building in Ottawa and was a design consultant for the United Nations building in New York.

Related Topics:
Supreme Court of Canada - Ottawa - United Nations - New York

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In addition to showing a great balance, in most of his buildings, between the disciplines of engineering and architecture, Cormier also had great skills as a painter and illustrator. He has left us many stunning renderings of his works, done in the planning stages.

Related Topics:
Engineering - Architecture

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In 1974, Cormier was inducted into the Order of Canada by Governor General Jules Léger, and received numerous honours and awards.

Related Topics:
1974 - Order of Canada - Governor General - Jules Léger

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