The Montreal City Hall restoration was an ambitious seven-year project. The collaborators transformed the 19th-century National Historic Site into a model of 21st-century civic architecture while maintaining its original grandeur. In other words, the architectural team’s innovative approach successfully reconciles the building’s ceremonial importance with contemporary demands for public accessibility, workplace functionality, and environmental responsibility.
By carefully removing decades of ad hoc modifications, the designers rediscovered and enhanced the building’s inherent qualities — from restoring natural light flow and reopening significant spaces like the Balcon du Discours to creating new public pathways that invite citizens to engage with their municipal government. The project’s environmental achievements are also particularly noteworthy, achieving a 79% reduction in energy consumption through advanced systems integration.
Image Credit: Raphaël Thibodeau
