Gilbert F. Sutton

I had Gil as my first year studio prof. Things I remember about Gil are: the significant tree, poetic of space, elegant of mean, he called me kelhan?, gardens, he alway give me a B, he thinks that chinese garden concept is too dense, micro-cosmo, macro-cosmo...

Carleton U., Architecture, 1993-1998

I had Gil as my first year Studio professor and he left a life-long impression on me of the importance of the poetics of space... in 5th year, I asked him to be my Thesis professor and it was a great year of ideas & design exploration. Even after 20 years, his teaching still influences my architecture.

Louise LaLande, Carleton University School of Architecure 1983-88

The very best memory I have of Gil, that always prompts a smile, is of him on a late night return journey to Ottawa from a first year sketching field trip to Quebec City during the October Crisis. Our chartered bus was road blocked at the Ontario/Quebec border by the police and ID demanded of all on board. Gil, wearing army fatigues, with a leg in a cast, and with long hair, beard and beret, hobbled on his crutch to the front of the bus to intercede. With him looking like a war-torn revolutionary, indeed like a Che Guevara, we students all thought that we would surely be held over for hours, but Gil’s usual charm and diplomacy prevailed and we were on our way in moments. My sincere condolences to his family. Gil’s kindness, wisdom, leadership and the respect he offered to others will always be remembered.

Christina Zwierzchowski / Carleton University School of Architecture 1970-75