Charles Thomas (architect)

Charles Ramon Thomas (23 July 1928 – 26 April 2022) was a New Zealand architect. He belonged to a movement of post-war architects in Christchurch who helped shape the Christchurch Style of architecture. Over a career spanning six decades, Thomas designed numerous residential, commercial and public buildings in Christchurch.

Among Thomas' notable works include Our Lady of Victories Church (1967) and the School of Music building (1974) at the University of Canterbury, both of which have won NZIA enduring architecture awards in 2004 and 2018, respectively. Thomas also designed high-rise buildings during the 1980s boom in Christchurch, including Arthur Young House (1985) and the headquarters of Don Forbes Construction (1983).

Thomas spent most of his life in Christchurch, where he was born. He took an interest in architecture while attending Christchurch Boys' High School, and briefly lived in Auckland to study the discipline at Auckland University College. Soon after graduating, he returned to Christchurch and worked for various architectural practices, before starting his own in the early 1960s.