Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Thomas Smith Cordiner | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 13 December 1902 | Died: | 24 November 1965 | Bio Notes: | Thomas Smith Cordiner was born on 13 December 1902, the son of Aubrey Cordiner, restaurateur and his wife Elizabeth Allan. He was articled to James Lindsay of Glasgow in January 1920, studying at Glasgow High School and Glasgow School of Architecture. In April 1925 he left Lindsay to join Wright & Wylie as a draughtsman. He passed the Senior Certificate course at the School of Architecture in June 1927, passed the RIBA qualifying exam in Edinburgh in July 1928, and was admitted ARIBA later that year, without proposers. He remained with the Wylie firm until 1932 when he commenced practice on his own account, and was elected FRIBA on 11 January 1949, proposed by Edward Grigg Wylie, George Ferguson Shanks and Walter Underwood, all of whom were then partners in the Wylie practice. At that time he was practising from 261 West George Street and living at 26 Midlothian Drive, Glasgow.
Cordiner was re-elected president of the Glasgow Institute of Architects on 10 April 1957. He was elected president of the RIAS in 1961.
Cordiner (along with Sam Bunton [400802], was appointed as an architectural consultant to the Direct Labour Dept by Glasgow Corporation to prepare plans for multi-storey flats in 1960.
Cordiner was married to Margaret Violet Gillanders McLean. He died of lung cancer on 24 November 1965 at Mearnskirk Hospital, leaving moveable estate of £53,764 19s 6d. His practice was continued by his son, Thomas O M Cordiner. His brother Albert Dick Cordiner (born 1905) was also an architect. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 26, Midlothian Drive, Shawlands, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1928 | After 1948 | |  | 261, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1935 | 1950 | |  | 261, West George Street, Glasgow, C2, Scotland | Business | Before 1949 | After 1957 | |  | Blythswood Chambers, West George Street, Blythswood, Glasgow, Scotland | Business(?) | 1951 | | |  | 124, Haggs Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1965 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |  | | St John's RC Church | Barrhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans prepared in the late 1940s |  | After 1932 | Factory for Messrs MacLean's Metal Windows Ltd | Cadzow | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | After 1932 | Philips Lighting Hamilton Factory | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Terrace of four shops, Old Luss Road | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Unexecuted proposals |  | 1936 | St Joseph's College | Lochwinnoch | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Conversion of Garthland to college |  | 1937 | St Winning's RC Church | Kilwinning | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Notre Dame (New) Girls' High School | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Building work interrupted - resumed after the War |  | 1943 | St Joseph's College | Lochwinnoch | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Chapel added |  | 1945 | Old Bishopton House | Bishopton | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Addition to north? |  | 1947 | Church Halls, Kelso Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1947 | Mure Memorial Church | Baillieston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion to home for the elderly |  | 1947 | New Church Halls Wallacewell Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1947 | Philips Lighting Hamilton Factory | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Factory Extension. Cordiner acting for Scottish Industrial Estates Limited |  | 1947 | Premises, Duke Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1947 | St Brendan's RC Church | Knightswood | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1948 | Acme Tea Chest Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Proposed addition |  | 1948 | Church Halls, Greenrig Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1949 | Premises for Alexander Ferguson & Co Ltd | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | New buildings |  | 1950 | Catholic Primary School, King's Park | King's Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1950 | Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church | Balgrayhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1950 | Our Lady of Fatima RC Church | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1950 | Sacred Heart RC Church | Bellshill | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1951 | Catholic Chapel and Offices, Bishopston Village | Bishopston Village | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1951 | Catholic Secondary School, Kirriemuir Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1951 | Church and Other Buildings, Millerfield Road | Daharnoch | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1951 | Lourdes Secondary School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1952 | Church halls, Barnhill Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New halls |  | 1952 | New halls, Pollok | Pollok | | Glasgow | Scotland | New halls |  | 1952 | Primary School, Kirkwood | Coatbridge | | | Scotland | New school |  | 1952 | St Mary's RC Church | Duntocher | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1952 | Wellpark Brewery, Townhead | Dennistoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans prepared for extensions |  | 7 November 1952 | RC Church, Bilsland Drive | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions |  | 21 November 1952 | New Presbytery, Alice Street | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | New presbytery |  | 12 December 1952 | New amenities block for Federated Foundries Ltd, Hawthorn Street | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | New amenities block |  | 1953 | Our Lady of the Assumption | | Ruchill | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1953 | Roman Catholic Primary School, Coatbridge | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | To prepare plans for new school |  | 12 June 1953 | New Protestant Public School, Lanarkshire | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | To prepare plans for new school |  | 14 August 1953 | New church, Bilsland Drive | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans in hand for new church |  | 20 November 1953 | Wellpark Brewery, Townhead | Dennistoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans in hand for additions and extensions |  | 4 December 1953 | Premises of Acme Tea Chest Co Ltd, Glasgow | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New building |  | 11 December 1953 | New Protestant Secondary School, Townhead | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Sketch plans prepared and approved for new school (with Watt) |  | 1954 | Roman Catholic Church, Penilee Road Housing Scheme | Balornock | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1954 | St Jude's RC Church | Barlanark | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1954 | St Mirin's Primary School | Castlemilk | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1954 | St Peter's RC Church and Presbytery | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1954 | St Thomas the Apostle RC | Riddrie | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1955 | Kingsridge Secondary School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1955 | RC Church of the Immaculate Conception | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1955 | Scotus College | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Buildings to N S and W of main house and chapel |  | 1955 | St Bartholomew RC Church, Croftfoot Drive | Castlemilk | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1955 | St Brigid RC Church | King's Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1955 | St Cadoc RC Church | Cambuslang | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1955 | St Gabriel RC Church | Cathcart | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1955 | St Maria Goretti RC Church | Cranhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Executed work |  | 1956 | St Margaret Mary RC Church, Dougrie Road | Castlemilk | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1957 | Christ the King RC Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1957 | Our Lady and St George RC Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1957 | St Stephen's RC Church | Dalmuir | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 11 January 1957 | Premises at 1-7 Cubie Street and 616 Gallowgate, Vinegar Hill | Vinegar Hill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Builder p121 |  | 8 March 1957 | Church, Sandwood Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | per Builder p482 |  | 1960 | Clydebank Technical College | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Original college building |  | 1960 | St Barnabas RC Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1961 | St Bernard RC Church | Pollok | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1962 | Hillpark Development | Hillpark | | Glasgow | Scotland | Responsible for proposal for eight 28-storey blocks |  | 1972 | Roman Court, flats and townhouses | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1974 | Oman projects | | | | United Arab Emirates | |  | | Linn Park Crematorium | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p4 Notre Dame School; Lourdes School p5 Immaculate Conception Church, Glasgow p175-6 Lourdes School p176-7 Notre Dame High School |  | Glendinning, Miles and Muthesius, Stefan | 1994 | Tower Block: Modern Public Housing in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland | | Yale University Press: New Haven and London | p243, p244 p381, Gazetteer 2 |  | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Architect and Building News | 27 January 1960 | | | p106 |  | Builder | 5 August 1949 | | | p184 |  | Builder | 7 April 1950 | | | p472 |  | Builder | 30 June 1950 | | | p889 |  | Builder | 16 November 1951 | | | p697 |  | Builder | 2 February 1951 | | | p186 |  | Builder | 18 May 1951 | | | p719 |  | Builder | 3 August 1951 | | | p166 |  | Builder | 18 January 1952 | | | p137 |  | Builder | 2 May 1952 | | | p685 |  | Builder | 6 June 1952 | | | p865 |  | Builder | 1 August 1952 | | | p180 |  | Builder | 7 November 1952 | | | p688 |  | Builder | 21 November 1952 | | | p768 |  | Builder | 12 December 1952 | | | p892 |  | Builder | 22 May 1953 | | | p812 |  | Builder | 12 June 1953 | | | p933 |  | Builder | 14 August 1953 | | | p264 |  | Builder | 20 November 1953 | | | p814 |  | Builder | 4 December 1953 | | | p903 |  | Builder | 11 December 1953 | | | p946 |  | Builder | 28 May 1954 | | | p958 |  | Builder | 18 June 1954 | | | p1091 |  | Builder | 11 January 1957 | | | p121 |  | Builder | 26 April 1957 | | | p775 |  | Builder | 14 October 1960 | | | 'Glasgow Architectural Appointments' p721 |  | Builder | 23 June 1961 | | | 'President's Advice to Students' p1226 |  | Builder | 17 November 1961 | | | 'Estimates for Design' p969 |  | Builder | 19 October 1962 | | | p769-70 Hillpark |  | Glasgow Herald | 27 November 1965 | | | obituary - 5d |  | Interbuild | September 1962 | | | p35 Hillpark |  | Official Architecture and Planning | October 1962 | | | p619, p631 Hillpark |  | Surveyor | 8 September 1962 | | | p1111-1112 Hillpark |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no4234 (combined box 2); F no4421 (combined box 13) |
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