Architect John “Hugh” Westren passed away on January 18, 2024.
Westren was born in Toronto in 1933 and attended UTS and North Toronto C.I. Following four years of working in the construction trades and starting a family, he enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto. He graduated in 1962 and accepted a contract administration position with Adamson Associates. In 1971, he joined Neish Owen Roland Roy (NORR).
At NORR, Westren ran the site office for Terminal 2 Stage 2, Stage 3 conversion at Toronto Airport prior to moving for three years to manage the new Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Upon his return to NORR, Toronto as an Associate and Director of Contract Administration, he participated in more than 18 hospital projects in Ontario. One of Westren’s favourite projects was Montfort Hospital in Ottawa. Throughout these years, he also taught Project Management Practice at Ryerson Polytechnical University (Toronto Metropolitan University).
In 1973 he won the RAIC competition to be the editor of the first Canadian Handbook of Practice for Architecture, consisting of four volumes: Business, Design, Contract Documents and Construction.
Westren retired from NORR in 1998 to become a practicing artist in California.
A memorial for Hugh will be held at a time and place yet to be determined. In his wishes, he said, in lieu of flowers or donations, “take a loved one out for lunch.”