Verma Panton
Verma Wevlyn Panton (17 April 1936 – 18 January 2015) was a Jamaican architect, the first female architect of the Anglo-Caribbean.[1]
Verma Panton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Verma Wevlyn Panton 17 April 1936 |
| Died | 18 January 2015 (aged 78) Jamaica |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Occupation | architect |
| Years active | 1964–2015 |
| Known for | first female architect of the Anglo-Caribbean and Jamaica |
Biography
Panton was born 17 April 1936 in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica to Laura Louise[2] (née Walker)[1] and Vernon George Panton.[2] Verma has two sisters: Faith (Baba) Panton and Sheila C Panton and one brother Cedrick Landale Leroy Panton. Faith died of cancer on October 31, 1991 in a nursing home in Santa Monica, CA USA. Faith and Sheila were never married and had no children. Verma has two nephews: Cedric Vernon Panton and Corrado L Panton, and one niece Brenda Panton. She attended elementary school at Claremont Primary School and then went to both Carvalho’s High School and Ardenne High School in Jamaica.[1] Having completed her secondary education, she worked from 1956 to 1958 as an Assistant Land Surveyor in the Survey Department, when she won a government scholarship to further her education.[1] Panton attended McGill University School of Architecture in Montreal, Quebec, Canada[3] graduating as the first female architect in Jamaica as well as in the West Indies.[1][2][4]
Returning to Jamaica in 1964, Panton became a Project Architect for the Ministry of Education until 1968, when she joined as an Associate Partner with the firm of McMorris, Sibley, Robinson (MSR).[1] In 1974, she chaired the committee to organize the Pan American Federation of Architects Conference. Panton left MSR in 1982 and became a Partner and the Director of the Landmark Development Company, where she remained for the next two years, leaving in 1984 to open her own practice.[2] She was one of the founding members of the Jamaican Architects Registration Board which was formed in 1987 and served in various capacities of leadership.[5]
Panton received numerous awards for her work, including Honourable Mention in two Low Income Housing Design Competitions: the 1967 event sponsored by Wood Preservation Co. Ltd. and the 1973 event sponsored by Redimix Concrete Ltd. In 1985, she was honoured with a Certificate of Recognition for Pioneer Woman in Architecture and Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Architecture. The Jamaican Institute of Architects recognized her 20 years of service in 1987.[1]
Panton died on 18 January 2015 in Jamaica.
Works
- Gordon Town Community Center
- Workers Bank Building, Constant Spring, Jamaica
- Botany Building at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
- Desmond Mair Insurance Building on Knutsford Blvd., Kingston, Jamaica
- Restoration of the Old Half Way Tree Courthouse
References
- "Personalities: PANTON, Verma Wevlyn". Discover Jamaica. Kingston, Jamaica: The Gleaner Online. 2001. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- Sleeman 2001, p. 433.
- "News from MSA" (PDF). Quebec Canada: McGill School of Architecture. 2007–2008. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- Lawton, Jacquiann (September 2005). "Social and public architecture in Kingston, Jamaica" (PDF). Docomomo. Architecture Beyond (33): 61. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- "History". Kingston, Jamaica: Architects Registration Board. 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
Sources
- Sleeman, Elizabeth (2001). The International Who's Who of Women 2002. London, England: Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-85743-122-3.