Region: Toronto Ontario
Born 1936, Port Hammond British Columbia
Bio
Peter Hiroshi Wakayama is a retired architect born in Pt. Hammond, B.C. on August 28 1936. During the war, Wakayama was interned with family at Hasting Park, Vancouver, B.C., and in the interior of B.C. at Tashme, Roseberry, and New Denver. After the war, the family moved east to Chatham, Ontario where Wakayama went to Central Public School and Chatham Collegiate Institute. Wakayama then entered the School of Architecture at the University of Toronto and worked during summers at J.W. Storey, Architect Chatham, Page and Steele, Architects, Toronto. He graduated in 1965 with B.Arch and started at Craig, Zeidler, Strong Architects, Toronto which became Zeidler Roberts, Architects where he became an Associate, General Partner and Senior Partner and retired after 35 years in 2000.
Some of the firm’s major projects in which he was involved include: McMaster Health Sciences Centre, Hamilton; Toronto Eaton Centre; Atrium at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto; Sunnybrook Hospital M wing, Toronto; Princess Margaret Cancer Hospital, Toronto; Ontario Place, Toronto; Confederation Life Head office now Rogers Head Office; Exhibition Place, Toronto; BNI City office, Jakarta Indonesia; Canadian Embassy, Seoul Korea. In retirement, Wakayama volunteers at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre on the Board and on various committees – Heritage, Arts and Events and he also serves at Community Living Toronto, Central Region Council. He is an avid skier, golfer, and traveller, and also practices Shodo, Japanese calligraphy, and works out at the gym.
