Raymond Moriyama, a renowned architect behind the design of some of Canada’s most iconic buildings — including Science North — has died. He was 93.

Science North lamented Moriyama’s passing on social media, recalling how its board asked him and a Sudbury architect, the late John Stefura, to lead the site selection and design for a new science centre.

“It was a wonderful combination, and the two became friends and colleagues,” Science North said. “In searching for a site, Ray Moriyama explored the rocks, hills, and downtown of Sudbury. His team eventually settled on the rock at the west end of beautiful Lake Ramsey, visible from one of the city’s busiest roads.”

The design of Science North was “inspired by the geology of Sudbury,” the centre noted. “The Cavern symbolizes the Sudbury Basin, created by a meteorite impact. It is around the edge of the impact crater that nickel is found. Nickel makes stainless steel, which is the cladding of the Science North buildings.”

The snowflake shape of the Moriyama design, meanwhile, “symbolizes the glaciers which sculpted the landscape of Sudbury,” the centre said. “Even the spire atop the large snowflake has scientific symbolism. The downward spiral from the top follows Fibonacci’s number sequence.”

In the 39 years since Science North opened, “it has become an icon of the Sudbury landscape, a true image changer for the city. It has educated and entertained millions of visitors, many of whom are young people inspired to pursue science by the exhibits and programs of Science North,” the centre said.

“Ray Moriyama’s building, the exhibits and programs took Sudbury from last to first among Northern tourist attractions. In a talk to the McEwen School of Architecture in 2013, Ray Moriyama said of his work on Science North: ‘I wanted to put Sudbury on the map.’ He certainly did.”