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Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon CHALMERS, Gordon Tudhope Born: 1911 Died: 1987 Architect Studied architecture at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating with a Degree of Bachelor of Architecture in March 1935. He worked as part of a team of architects under GE PEARSE on the drawings of the Bernard Price Institute (see also WELZ) and several other campus buildings. The same team assisted with the design of Escom House (Van Eck Building) in about 1936 in Johannesburg. Chalmers also produced the photographs for the report on the completion of the Central Hall at the University of the Witwatersrand which was printed in the South African Architectural Record (Apr 1941:135-56). Soon after this (n.d.) he left to practise in Durban where he spent the rest of his career. In 1946 he joined the team at SN TOMKIN and PARTNERS in Durban, and remained with them for approximately 12 years, after which he worked for a few years with GEOFFREY LE SUEUR and PARTNERS in Durban. In about 1962 he moved on to operate as sole practitioner, GORDON CHALMERS CHARTERED ARCHITECT, at 4 Huberta Road, Westville, and retired circa 1984. He undertook numerous developments in greater Durban, including signature projects: Amsterdam House (central Durban); Beacon Sweets headquarters and factory (Mobeni); Essenwood Road synagogue (for SN TOMKIN and PARTNERS in association with CLEMENT R FRIDJHON and FULFORD); Headquarters building for Natal Blood Transfusion Services; and various commissions for Tongaat Sugar Company at sites in Tongaat, Maidstone and Verulam. He provided original designs as well as alterations and additions for many clients in and around Durban, including: small industries in the Durban–Pinetown area; new and expanded school developments for the Natal Education Department (Woodlands and Westville); new suburban bank building (Durban south); and domestic dwellings for several private owners in the greater Durban area. He also served a number of terms on the Town Planning Committee and the Elevational Control Committee of the Westville Town Council. This information is provided by his sons, Dr. Ian Chalmers of Winnipeg, Canada, and Dr Andrew Chalmers of Auckland, New Zealand – assisted by references to Artefacts and to Google Maps. ISAA 1936. (ISAA mem list; Herbert 1975:267 note 22:14) Publ: The apartment houses of ancient Rome, SAAR Aug 1953:237-40; The Bernard Price Institute of geophysical research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, SAAR Mar 1938:69-76; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg: the central block, SAAR Apr 1941:15-56 All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.