Espace 67

Montréal, Canada

Photo © Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau

Photo © Marc Cramer

Architects: Lemay

Location: Montréal, Canada
Year: 2019
Client: Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau
Team: Patricia Lussier, Lucie St-Pierre

This vast project to upgrade Parc Jean-Drapeau involves the development and enhancement of a natural amphitheatre with the capacity to host 65,000 spectators, as well as the redevelopment of the central concourse to establish a strong visual and thematic connection between the Biosphere and Alexander Calder’s sculpture Trois disques. This upgrade will also make it easier for visitors to orient themselves in the western sector of the island.

The proposed amphitheatre development concept creates a flexible, versatile space to renew and sustain lasting interest in the site. This same versatility is reflected in the transformation of the main alley, which extends outward from the metro station entrance and links the island’s two shores, from the Calder sculpture to the Biosphere and over to the Cosmos Bridge.

In addition to improving the reception of visitors exiting the metro, the new facilities enhance the quality of the existing built and natural environment, to revive emotion – in the spirit of Expo 67 – by offering site-specific attractions and highlighting exceptional views. The result is a unique and memorable four-season urban destination.

This project embodies the new brand image of Parc Jean-Drapeau that encompasses the island’s riverside character, the proximity of the metropolis, stunning views from one shore to another, and the memory of the site’s diverse forms of human occupation.