Dedicated To Karo Halabyan's 100 Anniversary

Jim Torosyan was born in Yerevan. In 1949 he finished National Polytechnic University, in 1954 taught at University of Architecture and Construction of Yerevan (Professor since 1979), from 1962 to 1964 - Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Union of Architects of Armenia, from 1971 to 1981 Chief Architect of Yerevan, from 1958 – the head of the architectural workshop of “Yerevanproject” institute. Starting from 1989 Jim Torosyan directed the commission which aimed to reconstruct the damaged regions of Armenia after the Spitak earthquake. Together with the co-authors Jim Torosyan constructed the complex of Scientific Research Institute of Cardiology in Yerevan (1964-1969), a symbolic monument with the symbols of the eternity of Armenia with the golden emblem of the Ayrarat kingdom (1967), metropolitan station “Republic Square”(1981, for which he received State medal in 1983), Modern Art Museum (1982-1985), Armenia memorial (Cascade, 1980-2004) with a system of exhibition halls, demonstration pavilions, fountains system, Armenian Bank of Development in 1995, the Municipality with Yerevan History Museum (2004), also the complex of Spitak city square (1998-2005), the entrance and the open air altar of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (2001). His monuments, memorials, tombstones are distinguished by the combination of architecture and monumental arts. The architect's works have been exhibited at international architectural congresses, he had solo exhibitions in Yerevan (in 1965, 1976, 1996), in Tbilisi (1967), in Moscow (1983, 1997), Leningrad (1983). Jim Torosyan received gold medal during All-Union review “The best work of the year” in 1982, “Anania Shirakatsi” medal in 1998. From 2003 - Honorary Citizen of Yerevan and of Spitak from 2004. Since 1983 he was an Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, International Academy of Architecture (since 1993 - Professor) of the Moscow branch (1992). In 1968 Jim Torosyan was awarded the title of Honored Architect of Armenia, from 1988 - People's Architect of the USSR. Died in Yerevan.