Does this building have a soul? That was the question Alfred Rouleau asked when envisioning Complexe Desjardins. Here we stand before Complexe Desjardins. It is more than just a building. It is a landmark.
Complexe Desjardins is a mixed-use complex in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles. It includes offices, a hotel, and a shopping mall. The goal was to develop the eastern end of downtown Montreal. It sits within Saint Catherine, Saint-Urbain, Jeanne Mance, and René Lévesque Boulevard.
The architectural design features towers housing offices. These offices belong to the Desjardins Group and the Quebec Government. Other companies also have offices here. A hotel is also part of the complex. An atrium shopping center links everything together. This creates an indoor square effect. Uniquely, Complexe Desjardins has its own postal code prefix, H5B.
This complex connects to Place des Arts via the underground city. You can also reach the Place-des-Arts Metro station. To the south, it links to Complexe Guy-Favreau. The Palais des congrès de Montréal and Place-d’Armes Metro station are also accessible.
The hotel first opened as Hotel Meridien Montreal in April 1976. It later became the Wyndham Montreal. In 2003, it was renamed the Hyatt Regency Montreal. Since December 2018, it has been the DoubleTree by Hilton Montreal.
Complexe Desjardins includes four main structures. The South Tower stands tallest at 152 meters with 40 floors. The East Tower reaches 130 meters with 32 floors. The North Tower is 108 meters tall with 27 floors. The DoubleTree by Hilton Montreal is approximately 60 meters with 12 floors. All were completed in 1975.
In the early 1970s, the Mouvement des caisses populaires et d’économie Desjardins partnered with the Quebec Government. They wanted to create a complex meeting economic, social, and human needs. Since its opening in 1976, Complexe Desjardins has been a hub. It serves business, culture, tourists, and shoppers.
The location of Complexe Desjardins was carefully chosen. It needed to revitalize a strategic site. It also needed to positively impact the urban environment. The firm La Haye-Ouellet proposed the area bordered by several streets. This location would expand downtown. It would also improve connections between the city’s east and west sides. Place des Arts’ proximity supported the development’s cultural vision.
In April 1970, the official design was revealed. It included a multi-floor structure. Three towers and a hotel would surround it. A public plaza would sit at the heart of the structure. This plaza would host sociocultural and educational activities. The building would also have underground parking. It would accommodate over 1000 cars, movie theaters, and a shopping center. The shopping center would feature about 100 stores, cafés, and restaurants.
The goal was to integrate a complex into the urban fabric. It would meet human needs and contribute to human development. It would be an urban oasis. Mr. Alfred Rouleau, president of Desjardins Group, wanted Complexe Desjardins to have a soul. This led to La Grande-Place. It is a free multicultural plaza open to the public.
Mayor Jean Drapeau wanted Place des Arts and the Notre-Dame Basilica spires visible from the center of Complexe Desjardins. This explains the large windows overlooking René-Lévesque Blvd. and Sainte-Catherine Street.
Construction took four years. Janin Construction Ltd. oversaw the project. The developers used the “design-build” model. The site was divided into about 150 calls for tender. Over 12000 people worked on the site.
The Complexe Desjardins opened on April 3, 1976. Premier Robert Bourassa, Mayor Jean Drapeau, and 3000 guests attended.
Today, Complexe Desjardins hosts over 200 free public activities each year. It continues to play a vital role in Montreal life. It embodies the dynamic energy that inspired its creation.