The fonds reflects Peter Cardew’s professional career as an architect, predominantly since 1966, the year that he emigrated to Canada. Over his career, Cardew designed schools, exhibition buildings for Expo ‘86 held in Vancouver, B.C., condominiums, private homes, office buildings, libraries, art galleries, retail establishments and furniture. Records include slides and photographs of buildings that may have served as inspiration for his designs, as well as those that he designed and built. Records also include building permits for select projects, and an exhibit catalogue for one of his best known exhibitions: Peter Cardew, Ordinary Buildings, an exhibition of his drawings first held in the Charles H. Scott Gallery at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Records also include numerous awards that Cardew received for his designs, certificates which document his membership in various professional associations, as well as posters for various speaker series in which he participated. The fonds also includes records related to the operation of Cardew’s firm, Peter Cardew Architects, such as account ledgers, stamps, and the firm profile.

The fonds is divided into three series: Slides and Photographs, Professional Documents and Other Materials, and Architectural Drawings.

Records consist of slides, photographs, negatives, legal documents, building permit applications, awards certificates and medallions, exhibit catalogues, magazine profiles, posters, newspaper clippings, account ledgers, diplomas, furniture designs, and architectural drawings.