Sad news to start the new year as the CBC has reported famed architect Eberhard Zeidler has died aged 95 at his home in Canada. 

Zeidler was one of the last living links to the Bauhaus school and the man responsible for some of Canada’s most significant mixed-use urban developments including Ontario Place and the Eaton Centre in Toronto.

Born in Germany in 1926, Zeidler served in the Kriegsmarine under Hitler’s reign and later immigrated to Canada to work in the office of his professor Emanuel Lidner.  Zeidler went on to join another firm in Peterborough called Blackwell, Ziedler and Strong that eventually became Zeidler Architecture. Zeidler had been serving in an emeritus role with the firm since announcing his official retirement in 2009. 

Aside from his practice, Zeidler was an adjunct instructor at the University of Toronto from 1983 until 1995 in addition to his appointments to the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario, which were conferred in 1984. Zeidler was known to prioritize public buildings and was said to have completed over 1,000 project in his lifetime, of which less than 60 were private residences (although examples still exist in 

We’re deeply saddened to hear about the passing of architect Eb Zeidler, the force behind many of our city's landmarks. Our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Thank you Eb for your passion to make a better city. #RIP @oaarchitects @RAIC_IRAC pic.twitter.com/6q6iyLcyjj
— Toronto Society of Architects (@ToSoArch) January 7, 2022

A statement posted to the firm’s page acknowledged its leader as a dedicated architect who “approached his work with a strong technical ability combined with humanist sensibilities,” adding “his work balanced practical form while recognizing the emotional and aspirational needs of the people that occupied their spaces” and that his designs “left a distinguished mark on the Canadian architectural landscape.”

“Eb’s prolific career, philosophical views on city building and pioneering design inspire architects all over the world. In healthcare, he transformed the notion of the machine hospital into a healing environment, believing that the hospital itself serves the emotional needs of its patients, staff and visitors,” the statement read. “He took labyrinth corridors and transformed them into an open system with natural light, green spaces and settings for communal gathering. Eb applied these same sensibilities to all of his work.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory added remarks in which he called the architect a “great talent” and said that the city was “better for his creativity and commitment to excellent design.” Zeidler would have turned 96 on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Jane and their four children.