Robert Findlay
Encyclopedia
Robert Findlay was a Canadian
architect
. He was born in Inverness
, Scotland
, and moved to Montreal
in 1885. He won the competition for the first Sun Life Building
, and was the architect for the project, which he began in 1890. The Sun Life company left this building for its current location in 1913.
Findlay cultivated an extensive practice, working in later years with his son, Frank. He designed many homes for Montreal merchants and businessmen, including the Bronfman family
and the Molson family
. Many of these homes were in the "Golden Square Mile
" and in the city of Westmount
. Many of the Golden Square Mile homes he designed were later purchased by McGill University
, including the Mortimer Davis House (now Purvis Hall). He also designed the Calvary Congregational Church in Westmount (1911), located at the intersection of Greene Street and Dorchester (now René-Lévesque) Boulevard, but was demolished in 1961. He was also responsible for Mull Hall (1916), (later known as Stewart Hall) on Lakeshore Rd, and for the Hallward House (1925), later the Martlet House
, now home to McGill's Faculty of Medicine administrative offices.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. He was born in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1885. He won the competition for the first Sun Life Building
Sun Life Building
The Sun Life Building is a historic office building on Dorchester Square in downtown Montreal, Canada.-History and construction:...
, and was the architect for the project, which he began in 1890. The Sun Life company left this building for its current location in 1913.
Findlay cultivated an extensive practice, working in later years with his son, Frank. He designed many homes for Montreal merchants and businessmen, including the Bronfman family
Bronfman family
The Bronfman family is a Canadian Jewish family. It owes its initial fame to Samuel Bronfman , who made a fortune in the alcoholic distilled beverage business during the 20th century through the family's Seagram Company. The family is of Russian Jewish and Romanian Jewish ancestry...
and the Molson family
Molson family
The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was founded by John Molson who emigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England....
. Many of these homes were in the "Golden Square Mile
Golden Square Mile
The Golden Square Mile was the name of a luxurious neighbourhood at the foot of Mount Royal in the west-central section of downtown Montreal, Canada...
" and in the city of Westmount
Westmount, Quebec
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km²....
. Many of the Golden Square Mile homes he designed were later purchased by McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, including the Mortimer Davis House (now Purvis Hall). He also designed the Calvary Congregational Church in Westmount (1911), located at the intersection of Greene Street and Dorchester (now René-Lévesque) Boulevard, but was demolished in 1961. He was also responsible for Mull Hall (1916), (later known as Stewart Hall) on Lakeshore Rd, and for the Hallward House (1925), later the Martlet House
Martlet House
Martlet House, formerly the Montreal headquarters of Seagram Company Ltd., is a Scottish baronial style building on Peel Street in Montreal, Quebec. The building was completed in 1928 by architect David Jerome Spence, with additions in 1931, 1947 and 1955....
, now home to McGill's Faculty of Medicine administrative offices.