Museum of Anthropology, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, by Arthur Erickson

The Museum was founded in 1947 when the various items in UBC's ethnographic collection were put on display in the basement of the Main Library. Dr Harry Hawthorn served as the first director of the new Museum, with his wife, Dr Audrey Hawthorn, serving as its first curator. In 1971 the Museum received funds from the Government of Canada and UBC to begin construction of a new building. In 1976, the new building, designed by renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, opened under new director Michael Ames, who served from 1974 to 1997. Walter and Marianne Koerner's 1975 donation of their extensive collection of Northwest Coast First Nations art to the Museum formed a large part of the new building's contents. In 1997 Dr. Ruth Phillips became museum director. In 2002 Dr. Michael Ames returned as acting director. Dr. Anthony Shelton became director in 2004. Arthur Erickson's building was inspired by the post-and-beam architecture of northern Northwest Coast First Nations people. Like much of Erickson's work, the building is made primarily out of concrete.