September 10, 2009

Sault Ste. Marie architect’s project featured on Malaysian postage stamp

SAULT STE. MARIE

Sault Ste. Marie architect David Ellis never imagined that one of his projects would end up featured on a postage stamp and in Malaysia to boot. But that in fact has happened.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Department of Chemistry, the Malaysian government has issued stamps showing exterior and interior images of a laboratory designed for the department by david ellis architect inc.

The 20,000-square-foot central laboratory and administrative centre in Kuala Lumpur was completed in 2000 at a cost of $43 million.

It was part of a larger World Bank-financed project undertaken in joint venture with Sudbury’s Nicholls Yallowega Belanger Architects and the Malaysian architecture firm of Perunding Alam Bina.

“I’m honoured having a building designed by the firm gracing a postage stamp,” Ellis said. “Postage stamps are things that collectors may keep for decades. This stamp quite conceivably could be viewed by someone 100 years from now.”

Juxtaposed on the two stamps are images of the new facilities and older laboratories.

The Department of Chemistry is one of 27 agencies under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. It has a network of 12 laboratories nationwide, providing testing services to the government and the private sector.

— PATRICIA WILLIAMS

Print | Comment