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3 Place Ville Marie Montreal s Shining Landmark Extrait de la publication

4 Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and Library and Archives Canada cataloguing in publication Main entry under title : Place Ville Marie : Montreal s shining landmark Translation of: Place Ville Marie : l immeuble phare de Montréal. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN (paper) ISBN (PDF) ISBN (EPUB) 1. Place Ville-Marie (Montréal, Québec). I. Linteau, Paul-André, FC P53P C Legal deposit: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 2012 Legal deposit: Library and Archives Canada, 2012 The publisher gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec (SODEC) to the publication and promotion of this book. Government of Québec Tax credit for book publishing Administered by SODEC We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) and the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing activities. Québec Amérique 329, De la Commune Street West, 3 rd floor Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2E1 T: F: Editorial director: Isabelle Longpré Revision: Violaine Ducharme Translation: Bradford Terry and Nancy Locke, Trans-IT Translations Graphic design: Célia Provencher-Galarneau Front cover photo: Stéphan Poulin Iconography and reproduction rights: Pierre-Yves Villeneuve Translation coordinator: Myriam Caron Belzile Production: Michel Viau and Anne-Marie Fortin All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Copyright 2012 Éditions Québec Amérique Inc. Printed in Québec

5 France Vanlaethem Sarah Marchand Paul-André Linteau Jacques-André Chartrand Place Ville Marie Montreal s Shining Landmark Extrait de la publication

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7 THE GRANDE DAME IN THE 1960s View of the complex looking northeast. Table OF CONTENTS Foreword: Modern from the outset About the authors Introduction France Vanlaethem, Sarah Marchand, Paul-André Linteau, Jacques-André Chartrand Chapter 1 A City on the move Paul-André Linteau A booming city ( ) Canada s premier city A new downtown emerges ( ) The site and its surroundings The roaring twenties and downtown expansion The dark hours of the Depression Post-war Montreal A period of strong growth The impact of the automobile Downtown comes into its own The crowning achievement of the 1960s Chapter 2 A major urban project on hold France Vanlaethem A new railway station for Canada s metropolis A commercial operation and a technical feat A new heart for a growing city Central station: finally complete Post-war revival A hotel and services complex A new president, a new comprehensive plan Enter William Zeckendorf the CN and Webb & Knapp strike a deal: The Place Ville Marie project is born Extrait de la publication

8 Chapter 3 The Place Ville Marie project France Vanlaethem The designers of Place Ville Marie The architectural division of Webb & Knapp Europe meets America in a new architecture Receptive young modernists Place Ville Marie: Early proposals First draft A cross-shaped tower The master plan A monumental centre An historic and innovative project Specialized studies focused on traffic The master plan approved The pitfalls of the building project A cool reception from the business community The master plan, amended Chapter 4 The construction of Place Ville Marie France Vanlaethem The Place Ville Marie architectural project The architects in co-partnership and other participants The cross-shaped tower: a rare structure The curtain-wall: a system little known in Canada A controlled environment Milestones and highlights of the construction project Build and design at the same time Controversy within the city council Construction begins A downtown area bristling with high steel work The complex completed The REACTION of the architectural press Making headlines in the international press Undertaking of the century, or a cold monster? Chapter 5 A city within THE city Sarah Marchand AN OPENING driven by passion A place that draws the curious The shopping mall: a slow but sure success Rave reviews in the mainstream press LARGE COMPANIES and professional services firms among the first tenants Extrait de la publication

9 Life at Place Ville Marie Montrealers embrace the idea of an underground mall Dining brought to you by the Queen Elizabeth The plaza comes to life Chapter 6 A precious jewel to cherish Sarah Marchand Place Ville Marie, a flagship real estate investment Trizec: owner of Place Ville Marie for 38 years A prime acquisition A world-class real estate company Lease management, a colossal task in a gigantic complex Rental challenges over the years A creative reinvention of the space Keeping the Grande Dame up-to-date Three expansions and a first wave of modernization The new millennium at Place Ville Marie More than an office building, a pillar of the community A focus on the environment and sustainable development conclusion France Vanlaethem, Sarah Marchand, Paul-André Linteau, Jacques-André Chartrand Bibliography index photos credits Extrait de la publication

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11 A COMMANDING EDIFICE This low-angle view brings out the purity of the building s architectural lines. MODERN FROM THE OUTSET Place Ville Marie is, without a doubt, one of the most prestigious and famous real estate assets in Montreal. Perhaps the most significant business complex in the world at the time of its construction with more than 3.4 million square feet of space, the building has contributed substantially to Montreal s bold and modern appearance and its ranking as a world-class city. For more than 50 years, Place Ville Marie has defined the skyline of this metropolis nestled in the province of Quebec, embodying one of the city s most powerful symbols. Place Ville Marie has the honour of accommodating more than 100 well-known Canadian and international companies that have found there the energy, vitality and prosperity that they seek. More than 10,000 people work for these companies and breathe life into the complex on a daily basis. Most are also among the 20 million who visit its shopping mall or stroll on the spectacular plaza ever year. Endowed with an exceptional historical heritage, Place Ville Marie has also kept pace with the times. Successfully evolving over the years, staying several steps ahead of its tenants needs, the complex has provided both an incomparable business environment and a welcoming urban space, bustling with activity. Thanks to constant efforts to maintain both the building and its exceptional quality, this archetype of technological knowhow dating back to the early 1960s still exerts its influence as a prestigious building on the cutting edge of technology, and at the forefront of managerial and sustainable development best-practices. We are proud to take part in the celebration of Place Ville Marie s 50 th anniversary through the publication of this magnificent book, a passionate and rewarding portrait of the history of Montreal s crown jewel. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the authors France Vanlaethem, Sarah Marchand, Paul-André Linteau and Jacques- André Chartrand all specialists in their respective fields, who will help you discover, or rediscover, the complex we affectionately call the Grande Dame of Montreal. Enjoy! The team from Ivanhoé Cambridge, which co-owns and manages Place Ville Marie. The team from AIMco, which co-owns Place Ville Marie.

12 France Vanlaethem With a degree in architecture from the École de La Cambre in Belgium, France Vanlaethem is an associate professor at the École de design de l Université du Québec à Montréal and founding president of DoCoMoMo Québec, an association working to preserve and inform people about innovative 20 th century architecture in Quebec. Her research interests include the history and preservation of modern architecture in Canada and Belgium. She has recently published Sur les traces du Montréal moderne et du domaine de l Estérel au Québec / Discovering Modern Montreal and the Estérel Resort in Quebec, Conservation de l art contemporain et de l architecture moderne: L authenticité en question, and L archi tecture et le patrimoine moderne du Québec. She is currently working as a modern heritage consultant with government agencies and private companies. She has been a member of Quebec s Commission of Cultural Property and the Montreal Heritage Council, and she sits on the Arts and Heritage Committee of the Montreal Transportation Company and the Heritage Committee of the Montreal School Board. Mélanie Fordham In this first monograph on Place Ville Marie, France Vanlaethem explores the architectural features of the building and looks at the team that participated in its development. She also sheds light on the many technical challenges that could have become obstacles to the completion of this impressive undertaking. Sarah Marchand Sarah Marchand is a professional writer who for more than 15 years has worked regularly with numerous Quebec-based companies of various sizes from a variety of industries, including Ivanhoé Cambridge. A specialist in corporate communications and organizational issues, she works on behalf of her clients to produce a variety of documents and publications intended for both internal and external audiences. She also writes speeches and memoranda that address a broad range of issues. She is also co-author of the book Investir, construire et habiter le monde Les 25 ans de SITQ, published in For this work on Place Ville Marie, Marchand focuses on the development of the complex over the years, the enormous task of managing and maintaining the facility, and the relationship that the tenants have with this place. In the course of her work on this project, Marchand was able to observe that, thanks to the excellent care provided by its owners over the years, Place Ville Marie remains a coveted address in the competitive downtown Montreal market. Through innumerable discussions and interviews, she has seen the deep attachment that the occupants and Montrealers generally have to the city s landmark building. Mélanie Fordham Extrait de la publication

13 Paul-André Linteau Born in Montreal, Paul-André Linteau is a historian and professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He is passionate about the history of his city, having taught classes on the subject for a number of years and published several related books and articles, including Histoire de Montréal depuis la Confédération, Brève histoire de Montréal and La rue Sainte-Catherine : au cœur de la vie montréalaise. Mélanie Fordham Linteau has written extensively, authoring or coauthoring works such as Histoire du Canada, Histoire du Québec contemporain and France-Canada-Québec : 400 ans de relations d exception, to name just a few. He has won numerous awards for his work, is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, and serves as a scientific consultant for a number of Montreal-area museums. For this publication, he situates the Place Ville Marie project in the broader context of development in downtown Montreal. As just one example of the discoveries he made while examining historical documents for this project, Linteau learned that the site where Place Ville Marie now stands was once home not only to opulent houses, but also a curling club and Turkish baths. Jacques-André Chartrand After completing a degree in history at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Jacques-André Chartrand worked in the field of information for public and semipublic companies such as Bell, Hydro-Québec and SITQ Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, before eventually launching his own communications consulting firm. At the same time, he continued his professional training in management and communication. Mélanie Fordham With an interest in community action and the development of his profession, he became actively involved in a number of associations in the areas of environment, energy, education and philanthropy. He has also served as president of the Société des relationnistes du Québec, an provincial association for public relations professionals. Chartrand s professional accomplishments include work in the areas of issues ma nagement, corporate social responsibility, communications in the context of change management and conflict resolution, and creating profitable partnerships. He initiated and coordinated the publication of the book Investir, construire et habiter le monde Les 25 ans de SITQ, published in In the course of his interactions with tenants and occupants of Place Ville Marie, he has compiled numerous anecdotes, archival photos and memorabilia related to the building, and developed a deep appreciation of the sense of belonging and pride that its occupants feel for their workplace, which they always regard with great fondness. Extrait de la publication

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16 France Vanlaethem, Sarah Marchand, Paul-André Linteau, Jacques-André Chartrand A STANDOUT TOWER A view looking south with the CIL building to the left and Christ Church Cathedral in the foreground.

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18 Bold is the adjective that aptly describes the people from near and far who, despite the many challenges, believed in the Place Ville Marie project. Since opening in 1962, this edifice has won the hearts of Montrealers and redefined the new downtown. NOW IN GOOD COMPANY Panoramic view of the winter skyline from Mount Royal. Inspired by the tenacity of its developers, we hope that this first monograph on Place Ville Marie will allow readers to better understand the various issues that, for more than 50 years, have influenced the planning, development and evolution of the complex, as well as how important it is to the Montreal landscape. A considerable amount of research went into the writing of this book. Access to unpublished documents, revealing visual references, and interviews with key players made it possible to shed new light on the project. Each author s style and approach were respected in order to convey their originality and freshness to the reader. Place Ville Marie is an integral part of a changing metropolis and marks the culmination of a half-century of development projects. In the first part of the book, A Metropolis on the Move we wanted to portray the general historical context by underscoring the features of Montreal s development, especially the major stages in the creation of a new downtown district. Along the way, we describe the appeal of the Place Ville Marie site prior to the upheaval caused by the coming of the railroad station. Chapters 2 and 4 are of particular interest to professionals and fans of architecture and urban planning. In Chapter 2, A Major Urban Project on Hold, we examine the series of proposals advanced for the development of the site and the critical role played by the railroad companies.

19 The project that would eventually be built, which featured the familiar cross-shaped building reigning over a large urban development, is the subject of Chapter 3, The Place Ville Marie Project. This chapter looks at the project s relationship to post-war architecture, the designers intentions, and the pitfalls that plagued the project s developer, despite his dedication. Chapter 4, The Construction of Place Ville Marie, focuses on the implementation of the project by a team that included a number of Montreal professionals, follows the progress of work at the site, and ends with the reaction from the local and international trade press. September 13, 1962, marks the official opening of this Montreal icon. Chapter 5, A City Within the City, relives the excitement of those very first moments, beginning with the opening ceremony attended by dignitaries and a sizeable crowd; the reaction of tenants and visitors alike to the novelty of the underground mall; and the constant activity on the plaza. Because the throngs of visitors are what bring the complex to life, we also focus on the surge in Place Ville Marie s popularity in the period immediately following the official opening. Chapter 6, A Precious Jewel to Cherish, introduces the owners and describes the management and operation of the complex. Place Ville Marie has aged very gracefully thanks to the great care that has been lavished on the complex. Managing such a large facility poses a number of challenges, particularly those related to the leasing and repurposing of certain spaces over the years, which we also address in this section. Finally, we discuss the numerous sustainable development initiatives implemented in recent years that make Place Ville Marie environmentally efficient. We have also chosen to include sidebars that either complement the main discussion or highlight certain aspects of Place Ville Marie, its developers and occupants. Some sidebars feature current tenants or partners. Others describe architectural or technical elements. Still others paint portraits of individuals who have played a key role in the history of this landmark complex. The initials at the end of each sidebar identify its author. Much like the illustrations, the sidebars offer the reader another way of approaching the subject. The graphic content was painstakingly tracked down and collected with the assistance of Pierre-Yves Villeneuve, who was also responsible for securing reprinting rights. Several sources provided the photographs, drawings and other documents, including the Library and Archives Canada, the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, the Archives of the City of Montreal, the archives at Ivanhoé Cambridge and at Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. A list of credits may be found at the end of the book. A number of individuals provided invaluable assistance at various stages in the creation of this book. Numerous players and first-hand witnesses to the events described (see the list in the bibliography) agreed to be interviewed. Librarians and archivists responded to our requests. We sincerely thank them all. We would especially like to thank Marie Caron, Dany Gauthier, Pierre-François Chapleau and Josée Lalande at Ivanhoé Cambridge; architect Henry N. Cobb and his daughter, Emma, at Pei Cobb Freed & Partners in New York; and Julie Fontaine and other staff members at the Archives of the City of Montreal. France Vanlaethem, Sarah Marchand, Paul-André Linteau, Jacques-André Chartrand

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