Restoration of Montréal City Hall

Discipline : Architecture

Categories : Public Building / Institutional Building : Gold certification

Categories : Special Award / Sustainable Architecture : Gold certification

Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Renovation : Gold certification

Categories : Other categories in architecture / Continuing Value : Grand Winner

Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Heritage Enhancement : Grand Winner

Restoration of Montreal's City Hall: Between Memory and Future

A strong symbol of Canadian municipal history, Montreal's City Hall (1872-1878) is the first building in the country designed exclusively for administrative functions. Rebuilt in 1925 after a major fire, it retained its original stone walls while gaining an additional floor, reinforcing its Second Empire architecture.

Spanning 7 years from design to delivery, this heritage restoration project is one of Quebec's most ambitious. Led by Beaupré Michaud and Associates, in collaboration with MU Architecture and several specialized experts, it combines historical preservation, functional modernization, and ecological performance.

The project enhances the original spaces by encouraging the entry of natural light, opening up circulation, and creating a public route through the building's symbolic sites: the Hall of Honor, Council Chamber, Francophonie Salon, and Speakers' Balcony. The goal: to reconnect the city hall with its citizens.

Interior spaces have been redesigned to promote inclusion and democratic transparency: an open reception hall, modernized exchange counters, a press room, exhibition areas, family spaces, and a café accessible to all, all in compliance with universal accessibility standards.

A new contemporary brass and granite addition on the terrace replaces a former temporary shelter. Its simple and elegant design harmoniously integrates with the existing structure, affirming the contemporary grounding of the place with an unobstructed view of Mount Royal and downtown.

The upper floors, once partitioned, have been transformed into bright and flexible working spaces, integrating natural light, biophilia, acoustic comfort, and discreet technological equipment. In response to the pandemic, a greater variety of uses has been introduced: collaborative corners, relaxation zones, cozy rooms, or videoconferencing rooms.

The restoration is part of an ambitious sustainable approach, with the achievement of a LEED v4.1 certification and a 79% reduction in energy consumption. The project values original materials, integrates efficient systems, and focuses on a near carbon-neutral strategy. Active mobility and green infrastructure complete the approach: changing rooms, showers, bike garages, and electric charging stations.

Finally, the restoration highlights traditional skills, restoring 12,000 tons of stone and 169 historical windows. The trades of stone, metal, and wood have been mobilized, valuing craftsmanship and ensuring its transmission.

This exemplary project restores the full prestige of the City Hall, making it a model of contemporary civic architecture, combining heritage, citizen openness, and ecological innovation.

The project in images