Education Department Architect.

Progress, Volume XVI, Issue 1, 1 September 1920, Page 9

Education Department Architect.

Mr. J. T. MAIR, A.R.1.8.A., of Wellington, Appointed.

It gives us much pleasure. to note that the Minister of Education, Mr. C. J. Parr, has appointed Mr. J. T. : Mair, A.R.1.8.A., of Wellington as its architect., Mr. Mair's services were taken advantage of by the Defence Department in July 1918, to supervise the hospital buildings, and we feel sure the Government has done a good thing for the country in appointing him arcritect : for the erection of school buildings. Previous to 1918 s Mr? Mair was in private practice in Wellington, and some of his wcrk has appeared from time to time in the pages of this journal—-notably the fine brick church he designed for Invercargill. " Mr. Mair is a New Zealander, born in Invercargill, where he received his first architectural training. He was for several years on the staff of the Chief Engineer, N.Z, Railways, and* in; 1906, commenced a two year course of study at the University of Pennsylvania, ;IJ.S:-A., where, he gained a special certificate in architecture. ... . '■■: \ While in America, Mr. Mair was employed for some time *a'Sv designer to ,the . school architect, Richmond, Virginia, and later on the design staff of George B. Post and Sons,-•architects,. New. York, as assistant to Mr. Gr. B. Ford, the'" how" celebrated American" authority on housing and town- planning. He later proceeded to London for examination by the R.1.8.A., and afterwards returned to New Zealand. He is a Fellow of the N.Z. Institute of Architects.