McGill station

McGill
McGill
Location	De Maisonneuve Boulevard at University Street; Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A4; Canada
Coordinates	45°30′14″N 73°34′18″W / 45.50389°N 73.57167°WCoordinates: 45°30′14″N 73°34′18″W / 45.50389°N 73.57167°W
Operated by	Société de transport de Montréal
Connections	Société de transport de Montréal
Construction
Depth	10.7 metres (35 feet 1 inch), 49th deepest
Disabled access	No
Architect	Crevier, Lemieux, Mercier and Caron
History
Opened	14 October 1966
Passengers
2020	4,110,140 65.2%
Rank	2 of 68
Services
Future services

McGill station is a Montreal Metro station in the borough of Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.^[3] It is operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and serves the Green Line. The station opened on October 14, 1966, as part of the original network of the Metro. It is currently the second busiest station (after Berri-UQAM station) in the network measured by number of passengers entering the system. Prior to 2002, it was the busiest station in the network.

Overview[]

McGill station in its former colours of green and burgundy, changed in 2010.

McGill station during rush hour.

Designed by Crevier, Lemieux, Mercier and Caron, it is a normal side platform station built in open cut under boul. De Maisonneuve, with two joined by corridors that surround the platforms. The ticket halls are linked to the platforms by four stairways per platform, including the shortest escalators in the network. The station has large pillars, which were originally painted orange, but painted in beer bottle green colour in the late 1990s. In January 2010 the STM repainted the station in its original colours being orange pillars and yellow walls.

As an important part of the underground city, the station has had its mezzanine level substantially enlarged since its opening, by construction of new buildings around the station: the western end of the mezzanine was added with the construction of the Tour BNP and Eaton Centre, while the southern corridor between the ticket halls was added to link the Promenades de la Cathédrale (now known as Promenades Cathédrale) with the station.

McGill station concourse.(The previous green coloured pillars can be seen in the background)

No fewer than six buildings are directly connected to the station via underground city, and one, the Eaton Centre, has an entrance directly on the Honoré-Beaugrand platform. (Another access to 2020 de Maisonneuve from the Angrignon platform has been closed.) The station has a further six direct street-level entrances, all of which are integrated into the façades of other buildings.

Among this busy station's amenities include several shops and services directly in the station, including a Tim Hortons, Second Cup, a Scotiabank, two Pizza Shops, a web terminal, and MétroVision information screens which displays news, commercials, and the time till the next train. This was second station after Berri-UQAM to have them installed. At one time an "open-concept" branch of the Montreal public library was located next to the exit onto rue Université.

The station has 6 entrances:

690, De Maisonneuve Ouest

640, boul. de Maisonneuve ouest

811, boul. de Maisonneuve ouest

2055, rue University

2021,

1445, av. Union

Architecture and art[]

The images of Montreal's first two mayors, Jacques Viger and Peter McGill, in stained glass. The image of Peter McGill is sometimes mistakenly believed to be James McGill, the founder of the nearby university

This station contains several pieces of art. The most prominent is Nicolas Sollogoub's Montreal Scenes Circa 1830, depicting the industrial era in the city as well as its early mayors and civic arms. This set of five stained-glass murals was donated by Macdonald Tobacco. created a set of terra cotta murals depicting fruit and flowers, surrounding the entrance to Eaton's (now the Complexe Les Ailes). The construction of the Promenades de la Cathédrale in 1992 brought two new works of art, a light sculpture called Passūs by , and an installation of an aerial view of Montreal complete with miniature figures of the buildings, by art collective . The latter work is entitled To rise, we must push against the ground onto which we have fallen.

Finally, a tapestry by depicting the life of James McGill was donated by Canadian Universal Limited Insurance in 1969; however, after being vandalized, it was removed by the company for restoration, and then given as a perpetual loan to McGill University instead, where it is now exhibited at the McLennan Library.

Origin of the name[]

McGill is named for McGill University. Founded in 1821 with money and on land bequeathed by Scottish-Canadian businessman James McGill, this is one of Canada's most prestigious institutions of higher education.

Renovations[]

In March 2012, the station underwent renovation work that included the replacement of Travertine tiles covering surfaces of the whole station, spanning over 1,835 square meters. Other work included replacing the lighting system, fixing columns, beams, and concrete slabs and replacing granite staircases and handrails. The work was to be completed by March 2013. More recently (end of 2016), modernized signage has been put in place, flooring has been completely replaced and the stained glass installation underwent a restoration and was put back in place.^[4]

Future connections[]

The Mount Royal Tunnel, which formerly carried the Deux-Montagnes commuter rail line, passes near the station. The Réseau express métropolitain project, which is converting the line to light metro operation, will connect with the Green Line via a station built under the current Metro station.^[5]

Connecting bus routes[]

Société de transport de Montréal
Route
15 Sainte-Catherine
35 Griffintown
61 Wellington
125 Ontario
168 Cité-du-Havre
358 Sainte-Catherine, Eastbound
420 Express Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

Nearby points of interest[]

Connected via the underground city[]

Centre Eaton/Tour McGill College
Place Montréal Trust
Tour Industrielle-Vie
2020 Robert-Bourassa
Place London Life/Les Galeries 2001 University
McGill University - 688 Sherbrooke
Hudson's Bay
Promenades Cathédrale
Place Ville Marie
Peel Metro station and points west
Bonaventure Metro station and points south
Place de la Cathédrale
Musée Grévin Montreal

Other[]

McGill University
Percival Molson Memorial Stadium / Montreal Alouettes
McCord Museum of Canadian History
Redpath Museum
Christ Church Cathedral
CJNT-DT / Citytv studios
Saint James United Church
Royal Victoria Hospital - Legacy Site
Montreal Neurological Hospital
Phillips Square

References[]

^ Société de transport de Montréal (2021-04-16). Entrants de toutes les stations de métro en 2020 (Report) – via Access to Information Act request, reference no. 0308.2021.075.
^ Société de transport de Montréal (2020-05-21). Entrants de toutes les stations de métro en 2019 (Report) – via Access to Information Act request, reference no. 0308.2020.091.
^ McGill Metro Station
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2012-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Jason Magder (April 22, 2016). "Electric light-rail train network spearheaded by Caisse de dépôt to span Montreal by 2020". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved April 23, 2016.