Bruno Freschi

Freschi was born in Trail, British Columbia, on April 18, 1937, in an Italian-Canadian family.{{cite web |title=Bruno Basilio Freschi |url=http://www.trailsportshistory.ca/home-of-champions/bruno-basilio-freschi.html |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=Trail Sports History}} He graduated from J. Lloyd Crowe Secondary School in Trail, BC, before going to study architecture at the University of British Columbia where he received Canada's top architecture student award. He graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.{{Cite web |title=Freschi, Bruno Basilio -- KnowBC - the leading source of BC information |url=https://www.knowbc.com/limited/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/F/Freschi-Bruno-Basilio |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.knowbc.com}} He then studied in London at the Architectural Association before returning to Vancouver, British Columbia.

Freschi started his career working with Canadian architects Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey in the 1960s. He founded his own firm, Bruno Freschi Architects, in 1970 in Vancouver. He was dean of the school of architecture and planning at the State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, USA until 2002.{{Cite web|last=Herko|first=Carl|title=Bruno Freschi - An architect's grand design on the future|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/bruno-freschis-vision-thing-an-architects-grand-designs-on-the-future/article_0816cc4a-d0e4-5080-8bd3-98648ea6d1aa.html|access-date=2020-08-03|website=The Buffalo News|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2010-11-05|title=Twenty-five years later, architect recalls the development of the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby|url=https://the.ismaili/ismailicentres/culture-diversity/burnaby/twenty-five-years-later-architect-recalls-development|access-date=2020-08-03|website=the.Ismaili|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Bruno Freschi|url=https://archnet.org/authorities/1267|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Archnet}}

Freschi's work explores mediums as a form of expressionism. He also explores themes for politics and urbanization through painting and sculpture. His exhibition, 'Body Politick: The Art & Architecture of Bruno Freschi' opened on June 28, 2018, at Il Museo inside the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver.{{Cite web |title=The Body Politick: The Art & Architecture of Bruno Freschi {{!}} sala.ubc.ca |url=https://sala.ubc.ca/news-events/event/2018-06-28-body-politick-art-architecture-bruno-freschi |access-date=2020-08-03 |website=sala.ubc.ca}}

In 1985, Freschi was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to architecture. In addition to his work as the chief architect and planner for Expo 86, the award's citation noted that he had "stimulated visual thinking with his energy, enthusiasm and creative flair in a diversity of structures and has been an inspiration to a new generation of architects".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=The Governor General of Canada - Order of Canada - Bruno B. Freschi |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-3372 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110224901/https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-3372 |archive-date=2022-01-10 |access-date=2020-08-03 |website=The Governor General of Canada}}{{Cite web |title=Order of Canada - Royal Architectural Institute of Canada |url=https://raic.org/raic/order-canada |access-date=2020-08-03 |website=raic.org}}

Freschi married Vaune Ainsworth in the late 1980s. The couple live in Blaine, Washington, in a self-designed home. In 2007, Freschi was diagnosed with cancer, undergoing a seven-hour surgery that left him reliant on a cane. Freschi remains active in art and occasional architectural projects.{{Cite web |last=Benoit |first=Matt |date=2021-06-18 |title=Meet Blaine’s Bruno Freschi, Renowned Architect and Painter |url=https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2021/06/18/meet-blaines-bruno-freschi-renowned-architect-and-painter/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=WhatcomTalk |language=en-US}}

• 1966 - Designs the Staples Residence in West Vancouver, an icon of west coast modern architecture.
• 1985 - Completes the architecture, design, and construction of the Vancouver Ismaili Centre for His Highness the Aga Khan.
• 1986 - Master Planner & Chief Architect, Expo 86.

File:Expo86logo.svg|Master plan, Expo 86, Vancouver, British Columbia

File:Science World.jpg|Science World at Telus World of Science, Vancouver, British Columbia

File:Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, front elevation and courtyard 1.jpg|alt=Ismaily Centre, Burnaby, British Columbia|The Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, Burnaby, British Columbia

File:Vancouver Wall Centre.jpg|alt=Wall Centre Vancouver, BC|Wall Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia{{Cite web|title=Bruno Freschi {{!}} Companies {{!}} EMPORIS|url=https://www.emporis.com/companies/106382/bruno-freschi|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Emporis}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

File:The Westin Grand light up with heart (49779816316).jpg|The Westin Grand, Vancouver, British Columbia{{Cite web|title=Bruno Freschi {{!}} Companies {{!}} EMPORIS|url=https://www.emporis.com/companies/106382/bruno-freschi|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Emporis}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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Category:Canadian architects

Category:University of British Columbia alumni

Category:State University of New York faculty

Category:1937 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Trail, British Columbia

Category:Expo 86

Category:Officers of the Order of Canada