Maison Alcan

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Maison Alcan
Maison Lord-Atholstan 08.JPG
Atholstan House, Maison Alcan complex, with Davis Building at rear and Berkeley Hotel building at right
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
General information
Address1188 Sherbrooke Street West
Town or cityMontreal
CountryCanada
Completed1983
Client
OwnerGuy Laliberté
Technical details
Floor area270,000 sq ft (25,000 m2)[1]
Design and construction
ArchitectRay Affleck
Architecture firmArcop
References
Official nameLa Maison-Alcan
TypeClassified heritage immovable
Designated2017-02-23

Maison Alcan (English: Alcan House) is a building complex located on Sherbrooke Street in the Golden Square Mile district of Montreal.[2] The complex was used to house the world headquarters for Alcan, now part of Rio Tinto Alcan, until 2015. Completed in 1983, the complex's integration of new construction with restored or renovated buildings marked a turning point in corporate Montreal's approach to development.[3]

Maison Alcan combined restored Golden Square Mile properties — Atholstan House, the Beique, the former Berkeley Hotel, the Holland House, as well as the Salvation Army's Montreal Citadel on Drummond Street — with a new aluminum-clad structure, known as the Davis Building. The Berkeley Hotel serves as the main entrance to the complex and its atrium, on Sherbrooke Street.[1] According to the La Presse newspaper, Maison Alcan marked the first time a major corporation based in Montreal had sought to preserve historic properties as part of a new headquarters. In contrast to the controversial demolition of the nearby Van Horne Mansion, Maison Alcan preserved part of the architectural heritage of the Golden Square Mile.[4]

Architects[]

Maison Alcan was designed by the Montreal-based architectural firm of Arcop (Architects in co-partnership), with Ray Affleck as lead architect.[5] Peter Rose collaborated with on the interior planning and design.[6]

Sale[]

In May 2011, it was reported that Rio Tinto Alcan was looking to sell Maison Alcan and move to new headquarters, due to the cost of renovating the building for a smaller workforce—and with the historic status of four of the seven buildings possibly complicating renovations. The complex was listed by real estate brokers Cushman & Wakefield, with a $30 million minimum bid.[1]

In 2015, Alcan moved its HQ from the building and relocated to the Deloitte Tower, which is located between Windsor Station and the Bell Centre.[7]

Maison Alcan was classified as a heritage immovable by the Ministry of Culture and Communications the 23 February 2017.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Lampert, Alison (May 7, 2011). "Maison Alcan in Montreal is for sale, but why move?". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  2. ^ "Maison Alcan". Lonely Planet. 2012.
  3. ^ Dutton, Nancy (2008). "Maison Alcan". A Guidebook to Contemporary Architecture in Montreal. Douglas & Mcintyre. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-1553653462.
  4. ^ Drouin, Martin (2005). Le Combat du Patrimoine à Montréal, 1973-2003 (in French). Presses de l'Université du Québec. pp. 225–226. ISBN 978-2760513563.
  5. ^ Ouellet, Line (Fall 1985). "Une architecture des sens" (Interview with Ray Affleck). Continuité (in French). Conseil des monuments et sites du Quebec (29): 12–13. ISSN 1923-2543.
  6. ^ Wagg, Susan. "Rose, Peter Douglas". The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Historica Dominion Institute.
  7. ^ Marotte, Bertrand (11 July 2013). "Rio Tinto Alcan moving Montreal headquarters". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  8. ^ "La Maison-Alcan". Ministère de la Culture et des Communications.

External links[]

Coordinates: 45°30′02″N 73°34′38″W / 45.5006°N 73.5772°W / 45.5006; -73.5772

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