- RG2024-2006-086-423
- Stuk
- 1983
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.
Biology Building - Construction
Winter view looking south at final stages of construction of the Biology Building.
Bio/Historical Note: The W.P. Thompson Biology Building is named after Walter Palmer Thompson, the University of Saskatchewan's third president and founder of the Biology Department (1913). Designed by Izumi, Arnott and Sugiyama, it was constructed between 1957 and 1959 and officially opened in 1960. Set back from the Bowl, the flat-roofed cube style building was located between the Collegiate Gothic architecture of the Chemistry and Physics Buildings. It originally consisted of a teaching wing and a research wing but a header and greenhouse complex was added in 1962. Unlike many other Canadian universities the Department of Biology remained a single unit, balancing diverse sub-disciplines rather than separating into several distinct departments. Prior to the building's opening in 1960, work in biological sciences was scattered among four campus locations. Perhaps the most striking of the building’s features is the mural of mosaic tiles that adorns the south and west exterior walls. The mural depicts the four main stages of cellular mitosis. The artist, Roy Kiyooka, chose chromosome patterns as a testament to Dr. Thompson's important discoveries regarding the genetics of wheat rust. In 1986, the Geology Building was completed on the south side of Biology, resulting in the transformation of the south façade from an exterior into an interior wall, part of a new atrium.
Biology Building - Official Opening
Elevated view of students dressed in Roman togas and outfits interrupting the ceremonies as dignitaries are seated behind and laughing.
Biology Building - Official Opening
Allan E. Blakeney, Saskatchewan Minister of Education, speaks during official opening.
Biology Building - Official Opening
Elevated view of the crowd in the lecture theatre.
Campus - Scenic - Physics Building
View looking northwest of Physics Building at left and Biology Building at right. Cars parked on road; landscaping and trees in foreground.
View from northwest across the Bowl with buildings (l to r): Thorvaldson, Biology, Physics and Administration. Students walking on grass in foreground.
Two images on card stock. Image 1: "The "Bowl" Looking West" with north wing of Murray Memorial (Main) Library at left, Chemistry and Arts buildings in background. Image 2: "Looking East from the Arts Building" with elevated view of buildings from l to r: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Administration and Physics buildings and north wing of Murray Memorial (Main) Library.
Looking west at the Biology Building; landscaping and student walking on pathway in foreground.
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.
Part of Educational Media Access and Production (EMAP) fonds
W. P. Thompson Building, with mosaics shown.