Bruno Freschi
Bruno Freschi (born April 18, 1937) is a Canadian architect and an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was born in Trail, British Columbia, to an Italian-Canadian family. He studied at the University of British Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Architecture in 1961, then studied in London at the Architectural Association. He worked with prominent architects Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey in the 1960s and started his own firm, Bruno Freschi Architects, in Vancouver in 1970.
Freschi is best known for being the chief architect of Expo 86 in Vancouver. His other notable designs include Science World in Vancouver, the Ismaili Centre in Burnaby, and the Staples Residence in Vancouver. He also served as dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at the State University of New York at Buffalo until 2002. His work often blends architecture with painting and sculpture, reflecting political and urban themes. His 2018 exhibition Body Politick: The Art & Architecture of Bruno Freschi was shown at Il Museo in Vancouver.
In 1985 he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to architecture. He married Vaune Ainsworth in the late 1980s, and they live in Blaine, Washington, in a home they designed themselves. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and had a seven-hour surgery, after which he uses a cane. He continues to be active in art and occasional architectural projects.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:05 (CET).