We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Polish-Canadian architect Victor Prus, who passed away in Montreal on January 21, 2017 at the age of 99.
Born in Poland on April 24, 1917, Prus served with the Polish forces in the Middle East and as a Flying Officer with the Royal Air Force 305 (P) Squadron, and was twice awarded the Polish Cross of Valour. In addition to obtaining his Diploma in Architecture at Warsaw Technical University in 1939, he received his M.Arch at the University of Liverpool in 1947. He taught and practiced architecture in London before immigrating to Canada with his wife, fellow architect Maria Fisz Prus, in 1952.
After working with Buckminster Fuller at Princeton, Prus set up his practice, Victor Prus & Associates, in Montreal. With his wife, Prus designed countless notable buildings include: the Palais des Congrès, Montreal; the Canada/France Astronomical Observatory, Hawaii; Le Grand Théâtre de Québec, Québec; Centaur Theatres One and Two, Montreal; Montreal Metro Stations Bonaventure, Mont-Royal, and Langelier; and Rockland Shopping Centre, Montreal.
Prus served as a visiting professor at McGill University’s School of Architecture and at the École d’architecture in Québec. He was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, an Academician of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He was honoured by L’Ordre des architectes du Québec with their Médaille du Mérite. In 1969, Prus served on the jury for Canadian Architect’s Awards of Excellence.
For more on Prus’ life and career, please click here.
Please note: This article was adapted from an obituary originally published in the Montreal Gazette on March 11, 2017. It can be accessed here.