Towering above the city Place Bonaventure stands a concrete giant. Its history begins in 1963 when Canadian National Railways sought proposals for development above its railway lines. Concordia Estates Development Company envisioned a massive trade center. This ambitious plan included an exhibition hall office space and a wholesale trade center. It was to be a colossal project.
Place Bonaventure’s construction started in 1964. It was completed in 1967. At 3100000 square feet it was the second-largest commercial building in the world. This architectural marvel is a prime example of brutalist architecture. Its exterior features poured-in-place ribbed sand-blasted concrete walls. The interior walls are either sand-blasted concrete or brick.
Concordia Hall a 250000 square foot exhibition hall hosted its first trade show in 1966. Above Concordia Hall five floors housed wholesale suppliers. These included fashion home furnishings and children’s toys. Another floor held offices of international trading nations. Two floors of retail space were also included at ground level. These uses changed over time.
In 1998 a significant renovation took place. Sixty million Canadian dollars were spent to redesign the building. Large continuous office spaces were created. Retail space was significantly reduced. Windows were added on all four sides of every floor. This allowed more natural light into the new office spaces. This transformation was pivotal to Place Bonaventure’s ongoing success.
Today Place Bonaventure is owned by Kevric Real Estate Corporation. It houses a 397-room hotel the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal. The hotel boasts a heated rooftop pool a 2.5-acre rooftop garden and impressive meeting space. The Sociu00e9tu00e9 de transport de Montru00e9al also has its headquarters here along with other major tenants. Place Bonaventure remains a vital part of Montreal’s downtown core. It’s a testament to ambition innovation and adaptation. Its history is a fascinating reflection of Montreal’s own evolution.