David Mesbur received his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Manitoba in 1966, and a Master of Architecture from University of Toronto in 1969. Between 1967 and 1969, he worked in urban planning and housing design with James A. Murray, Architect. After obtaining his Masters degree, he joined the planning department at Proctor & Redfern Ltd. where he gained valuable experience in subdivision planning and urban design. In 1974, he joined John Bousfield Associates as a junior partner, and was responsible for the planning of several new towns, including Erin Mills, Orleans, and Townsend.
In 1978, Mr. Mesbur opened his own practice, specializing in housing and urban planning. In 1983, the practice entered into an exclusive arrangement with Cineplex Odeon Corporation, an association that extended through 1990. During this time, Mr. Mesbur completed more than 250 multiplex cinemas in USA, Canada and Britain. In 1992, he joined Harold Smith in partnership to specialize exclusively in entertainment architecture, with a strong focus on multiplex cinema design.
Professional Affiliations
| 1993-Present | The Canadian Architectural Certification Board |
| 1993-1996 | Architectural Institute of British Columbia |
| 1974-1983 | Urban Development Institute |
| 1974-1983 | Canadian Institute of Planners |
| 1970-1991 | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada |
| 1970-Present | Ontario Association of Architects |
Lectures and Workshops
| May 2001 | Cinema Design; Responding to a Changing American Market. Presented at Cinema Training Central Conference, Buffalo, New York, USA |
| Mar. 2001 | Multiplex Cinema Design for the Indian Market, Seminar. Presented at BuildIndia 2001 Trade Show, Mumbai, and in Hyderabad and New Delhi, India |
| Oct. 1996 | Technical Aspects of Auditorium Design, Panellist, Technical Seminar. Showeast, Atlantic City, USA |
| 1992 | The Restoration of the Pantages Theatre. Presented at Westex '92, Calgary, Canada |
| 1991 | Innovations in Infill Housing. Presented to meeting of the Ontario Land Economists, Toronto, Canada |
| 1990 | The Language of Theatre, Lecture. Upper Canada College, Toronto, Canada |
| 1989 | The Pantages Theatre. Presented to Construction and Development Division, United Jewish Appeal, Toronto, Canada. |
| 1989 | The Restoration of the Pantages Theatre, Presented to Architectural Conservancy of Toronto, Toronto, Canada |
| 1977 | Housing and Social Change, University of Waterloo, Urban Design Workshop, Waterloo, Canada. |
| 1976 | Lowering the Cost of New Housing, Workshop presented at International Federation of Housing and Planning Conference, Helsinki, Finland |
| 1976 | Lowering the Cost of New Housing, Workshop presented to Urban Development Institute, Toronto, Canada |
| 1974 | Low Rise High Density Housing: A Study in Urban Form, Workshop presented to City of Toronto Planning Board, Toronto, Canada |
| 1971-1972 | Low Cost Housing and Social Change, Lecture for School of Social Work, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, Canada |
Awards
| 1990 | Housing on Toronto's Main Streets Competition, Sponsored by the City of Toronto |
| 1990 | Toronto Historical Board Award of Merit, Restoration of the Pantages Theatre, Toronto |
| 1989 | Architectural Conservancy of Toronto, Restoration of the Pantages Theatre, Toronto |
| 1989 | Ceramic Tile Institute Award, Universal City Cinemas, Los Angeles |
| 1987 | Electric Sign Design Competition, Granville Street Cinemas, Vancouver |
| 1987 | Vancouver Historical Board, Preservation of the Palms Hotel facade, and restoration of the Coronet Theatre, Vancouver |
| 1987 | Los Angeles Architectural Conservancy Award, Restoration of the Gordon Theatre, Los Angeles |
| 1980 | Carma Developments Planning Competition, Merit Award for the design of a community near Calgary, Alberta |
| 1969 | Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Small House Design Competition Award, Ottawa |
Publications
| Jan.-Mar. 2004 | Global Designs, Interview with Mesbur+Smith Architects, Theatre World Newsmagazine (pdf), Bangalore, India |
| Nov. 2003 | Mesbur, David, Worldwide Designs: International Markets Bring Unique Challenges, Film Journal International, New York, USA |
| Oct.-Dec. 2001 | Mesbur, David, Principles of Multiplex Design for the Asian Marketplace, Theatre World Newsmagazine (pdf), Bangalore, India. |
| 2001 | "Cinemex, WTC, Mexico City", Indian Architect and Builder |
| Aug. 2000 | Contributor to: Top structuralists discuss the future of the movie theatre Experience, Melissa Morrison (Ed), BoxOffice Online, New York, USA |
| Apr.-Jun. 2000 | Mesbur, David, Stadium seating; An analysis, Theatre World Newsmagazine (pdf), Bangalore, India. |
| Oct.-Dec.1999 | Mesbur, David, Technical aspects of auditorium design, Theatre World Newsmagazine, (pdf) Bangalore, India. |
| Sep. 1998 | Mesbur, David, Movie sound issues: How architects address them, BoxOffice, New York, USA |
| Summer 1991 | Mesbur, David, Want affordable housing? Try intensification, The Land Economist, Vol. 21, No. 2, Toronto, Canada |
| Sep. 1990 | Lally, Kevin, Restoration of the Carnegie Hall Cinema, Film Journal International, New York, USA |
| Feb. 1990 | Mesbur, David, The Pantages Theatre, Architectural Conservancy of Toronto Newsletter, Toronto, Canada |
| Feb. 1990 | Contributor to: Dressing up for the movies, Film Journal International, Kevin Lally (Ed), New York, USA |
| 1989 | Contributor to: Pantages Theatre; Rebirth of a Landmark, Constance Olsheski, Key Porter Books, Toronto, Canada |
| Oct. 1989 | Mesbur, David, The Pantages Theatre, The Canadian Architect, Toronto, Canada |
| Nov. 1978 | Mesbur, David, Lowering the Cost of New Housing, The Canadian Architect, Toronto, Canada |
| 1976 | Lowering the Cost of New Housing, John Bousfield Associates, Urban Development Institute, Toronto, Canada |
| Jul. 1974 | Contributor to: Vienna Town Planning Competition, The Canadian Architect, Toronto, Canada |