Local architecture studio Provencher Roy has included the "lighthouse"-like Port of Montreal Tower with cantilevered platforms in the renovation of a disused industrial pier in Montreal.
Provencher Roy placed the 65-metre-tall tower on the edge of a pier in Montreal's Old City that once served as a grain exporting hub for the region. It now functions as a departure point for cruise ships.
Top: Provencher Roy designed a tower for a quay in Montreal. Photo by Olivier Blouin. Above: it has a viewing deck that cantilevers from the side
The entirety of the pier was restored by the studio, with the tower rising at the end of a similar horizontal structure that serves as a boat terminal and was completed in 2019.
Called the Port of Montreal Tower, the structure is made of glass and steel and has a series of cantilevers that jut out as it rises. An observation deck protrudes from its side 55 metres off the ground, offering views of the river, the city and Mount Royal mountain. It has a glass and metal facade that reveals its interior. Photo by Nanne Springer
According to the studio, the tower was meant to serve as a "lighthouse" for both pedestrians approaching the quay by land and for visitors arriving at the city by sea.
"We wanted to make a statement to attract Montrealers to the end of the pier thanks to quality public spaces, beautiful views from the Tower, access to the river, and a space for citizens," said Provencher Roy principal Sonia Gagné....