Christina Perks

Christina Poznanska Perks, OAA, FRAIC (born 1935) is a Canadian architect known for her contributions to the public sector by managing the design and construction of Canadian Embassies. Throughout her career she has been an advocate for women's rights in the architecture industry. In celebration of the first woman president (Ellis Galea Kirkland) of the OAA Perks responded with "...Ms. Kirkland has moved from the usual reported role of woman as victim to an active shaper of the future environment. Hurrah!"[1] She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.

Christina Poznanska Perks
Born
Krystyna Poznanska

1935 (age 87–88)
NationalityCanadian
Alma materMcGill University, Montreal, Quebec
OccupationArchitect
PracticeGeorge F. Eber Architects, Public Works Canada, Global Affairs Canada, Perks+Penny
ProjectsCanadian Embassies in Washington, London, Beijing, Tokyo, and other cities, Lester B. Pearson Building, Sermons From Science Pavilion, Alcan Aquarium Pavilion

Early life and education

Born Krystyna Poznanska near Warsaw, Poland,[2] Perks left her home and moved to Montreal, Quebec in 1939. After graduating from Montreal High School in 1951, she began completing her bachelor's degree in architecture (B.Arch) at McGill University, finishing in 1957. While completing her degree, Perks spent her summer holidays working at architecture firms doing work such as drafting.[3]

Career

By 1958, Perks, at age 23, had become a licensed architect. She then moved with her husband and two-year-old son to his home in Bermuda where she subsequently started her own practice since the only firm on the island did not hire 'girls'. Contrary to beliefs that construction was more suited for men, her architecture practice "flourished" and she completed a variety of projects. "I was grateful for not having been hired for some menial tasks as, clearly, my career in Bermuda was so much more satisfying than it would have been as an employee," [3]she wrote later.

After moving back to Montreal, Perks worked with the office of George F. Eber as Project Architect on two buildings, the Sermons From Science Pavilion and the Alcan Aquarium for the Expo 67.[2] She then moved to Ottawa and served on several senior-level government positions at Public Works Canada. Positions consisted of Director of Facilities Development for External Affairs, Senior Policy Adviser and Senior Project Manager.[4] During her time there (1966–1970), she established the official Planning Section of the department of which she was principal.[2] Starting a private practice in Calgary in 1972, Perks developed and planned large commercial projects before returning to Ottawa in 1975 to work for the Foreign Affairs Department once more.[2]

As Director of Facilities Development and later as Embassy Project Deputy Director, Perks was crucial in overseeing the design of Canadian embassies across the world. Some of her notable projects include the embassies in Tokyo, London, Beijing, Paris, Mexico City, Lagos, Riyadh, Washington, Moscow, and Belgrade.[2] Her work has been described as the management of physical planning, design, and construction of buildings to support Canada's overseas operations.[5] This includes the process of procuring embassy projects as well as the selection of Canadian architecture firms to provide a design proposal.

After retiring from her work in the public sector, Perks continued to remain active in the design industry and founded a small architectural practice in Toronto with partner Sheila Penny named Perks+Penny (1992–1994).[2] They received several commissions from Canada Post and private families. Around the same time, Perks also started acting as Registrar for the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and continued to do so until 1997.[6]

Notable projects

Memberships

References
  1. Perks, Christina (Feb 9, 1993). "More success stories". The Globe and Mail.
  2. "Canadian Women Artists History Initiative : Artist Database : Artists : PERKS, Christina Poznanska Outerbridge". cwahi.concordia.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  3. Perks, Christina (2011). "My Summer Employment in an Architectural Office" (PDF). OAA Perspectives. 19 – via Ontario Association of Architects.
  4. Adams, Annmarie (2000). Designing Women: Gender and the Architectural Profession. University of Toronto Press. p. 84.
  5. "WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE". www.arvha.org. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  6. RAIC Book of Fellows 2018. Royal Architecture Institute of Canada. 2018.
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