"The construction of the new HEC Montréal building has been planned with great care to create an environment that is stimulating, welcoming and open to the entire community. We will be taking the same degree of care to produce a green and timeless building that will fit seamlessly into its surroundings."
– Loretta Cianci, Director, Campus Development
HEC Montréal wants this new building to reflect the principles that have earned it a spot as one of the world’s leading business schools.
This commitment is visible in three key respects: modernity, functionality and sustainability.
View of the architectural concept for the new HEC Montréal building
The new building is in response to a lack of space, which has major repercussions on the activities of HEC Montréal. Indeed, since it opened its building on Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine in 1996, the School has seen the following increases:
The building will be erected on the part of the site adjacent to Saint Patrick’s Basilica, between Côte du Beaver Hall and Rue Saint-Alexandre.
Out of respect for the cultural significance of the site, HEC Montréal will permanently commemorate the space occupied by St. Bridget’s Refuge, which marked the history of Montréal’s Irish community:
Great care will be taken to create harmony between HEC Montréal’s new sites and the Basilica. Additional landscaping with no barriers between the two properties will transform the block into a public space that is welcoming, safe and open to the Montréal community.
The library, common areas, cafeteria, indoor garden and rooftop terrace on the 8th floor of the building will be brightly-lit spaces accessible to all.
The new sites will showcase two public works of art created by internationally renowned Quebec artists, in keeping with the policy set out by Québec’s Ministère de la Culture et des Communications on the integration of art into architecture and environment.
Mappemonde, by Nicolas Baier
Théâtralité contextuelle, by Ludovic BoneyThe site is just a few minutes’ walk from the main office buildings downtown. It is served by several public transit and active transportation routes:
The proposed building has been registered with the Canada Green Building Council, and is aiming for LEED Gold certification.
LEED certification is granted to “green buildings.” It is a way of enhancing the well-being of building occupants and improving a building’s environmental and economic performance by way of proven and innovative practices, standards and technologies.
Green roofs, geothermal wells, landscaping that promotes biodiversity, tree transplantation, and mobility-friendly measures are just some of the concrete steps we will be taking to ensure that this new building is environmentally sound and LEED worthy. Replacing the current outdoor parking lot with indoor public parking is another significant measure and will eliminate a large heat island. The new indoor parking lot will be equipped with charging stations for electric vehicles.
| Business plan* | |
| Preparation | Fall 2016 to fall 2017 |
| Approval by Cabinet | Spring 2018 |
| Analysis and preparatory work | Summer 2017 to fall 2018 |
| Preparation of final plans and specifications | Winter 2018 to summer 2018 |
| Construction | |
| Call for tenders | Fall 2018 |
| Work | Summer 2019 to spring 2022 |
| Opening | Fall 2022 |
