Haussmann

Provencher Roy / Shepley Bulfinch / ekm architects "The 2020-2021 academic year has been a leap forward for the Fiat Lux Library Project. The Fiat Lux Project Office was established, led by Executive Director Robert Hamilton. McGill has engaged a trio of local and international architectural design teams: Provencher Roy, Shepley Bulfinch, and ekm architects. Provencher Roy, a multi-disciplinary, Montreal-based firm, have a rich portfolio of innovative and iconic projects. They bring significant institutional experience to lead the design team and are responsible for the overall project design. Boston-based architects Shepley Bulfinch are internationally recognized experts in library planning and design. They spearhead the functional and technical programming process and they are co-creators in design concept development. Montreal-based ekm architects bring in-depth knowledge of McGill’s campus and its Library to the table. “I am excited by the team of architects, engineers, and project stakeholders we have assembled to bring this project to life,” Hamilton said. “We have an excellent team to bring transformation and enduring value to the McGill Library.” It is a pivotal moment for the renovation project. The project recently received approval from the Ministry of Education and the Conseil des ministres to proceed directly to the planning and design (to 60% completion) phase." https://news.library.mcgill.ca/2021-update-fiat-lux-library-project/

Et qui donc sont les architectes?

When will Daudelin's sculpture/fountain Mastodo be reinstalled in one of the pools of water as shown in the renderings? And has the city indicated when the remaining portions of the square to the east will be renovated?

Je me demande la meme question!

I wholeheartedly agree that this design will age well, especially since Montreal is so sorely lacking in sobriety and elegance in its recent architecture (enough with the childish and ugly red and orange aluminium panels). It also reflects the international trend away from flat glass curtain walls toward more masonry and articulation in façade design, which has also been motivated by environmental concerns (glass façades are not exactly environmental miracles, and more eco-friendly triple-paned glass is expensive). The undulating, pre-fab concrete façade is very similar to that of One South First in Williamsburg designed by COOKFOX Architects. https://cookfox.com/projects/one-south-first/

Qui sont les architectes?

This Retail Insider article refers to the earlier La Presse article that indicated that the Bay in Montreal had been for sale, but provides more information about plans for potential redevelopment: "A recent proposal to the City of Montreal to modify the historic 655,000-square-foot downtown Hudson’s Bay flagship store could result in the building of a massive office tower along with a reduction in the footprint of the retail space within in the building. What would result is a real estate asset that would feature substantially more office space than retail space. The proposal seeks permission to demolish the unattractive circa 1964 back-end of the Bay building facing onto Blv. Maisonneuve (intended at one time to become a 200,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue) and replace it with a 400-foot-tall office tower with 25 floors. The total office space, including levels five to eight of the retail store as well as the new tower, would span 678,000 square feet. The retail space in the building would be downsized to five levels (basement up to level four) spanning about 295,000 square feet. The Sainte-Catherine Street side of the Bay building, referred to as ‘Colonial House’, is proposed to be restored as well as to see the addition of a public terrace overlooking Philips Square. The new grey glass and aluminum-clad office tower would feature a staggered design at floors nine, 14, and 20. A green roof is proposed as well." https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2020/10/hudsons-bay-company-announces-division-to-redevelop-real-estate-assets

Basic question, but one I can't seem to find the answer to anywhere: who are the architects designing the project? I imagine one firm is handling the master plan and other firms will design the individual buildings? Yet again as elsewhere in Montreal, the design of this project unfortunately remains about as conventional and uninspired as they come...

Setting aside all of its troubling privacy and governance issues (which are many, serious, and legitimate), from an aesthetic perspective, Snøhetta and Heatherwick Studio's proposal for Sidewalk Labs' Quayside development in Toronto is far more daring and visually appealing, from its use of natural materials (especially timber) to its unusual forms. https://www.dezeen.com/2019/02/19/snohetta-heatherwick-studio-timber-sidewalk-labs-toronto/

Est-ce que Provencher Roy a élaboré le plan directeur tandis que Lemay sera l'architecte? Je me souviens d'avoir lu que Provencher Roy était impliqué plus tôt dans le projet. Et savions-nous qui sera l'architecte paysagiste? J'applaudis les efforts du promoteur quant à l'innovation et l'inclusion. En espérant que la beauté des édifices et des lieux publiques sera également un critère primordial pour les architectes et le promoteur...