Bank of montreal
The new Bank of Montreal regional headquarters is located on a long vacant Water Street site in downtown St. John’s that forms the boundary between the historic core and the more modern west end. It’s form is a reflection of the unusually shaped site and the clients desire to provide a modern building with curtain-wall glazing, underground parking and all the modern amenities while being sensitive to the adjacent historic building fabric. To address the surrounding heritage buildings the shorter portion of the structure adjoining the neighboring buildings utilizes brick and traditionally-scaled fenestration and details. It was of the utmost importance that the building fully engage its pivotal downtown location and to that end the pedestrian linkages that predate the development were incorporated into the design. Along the east façade an existing right of way and stairs was incorporated into the design while along the west facade existing sidewalk stairs were refurbished
and a covered arcade was provided that connects to an accessible lift and a rear terrace overlooking Harbour Drive below. This openness at the rear façade combined with a variation in massing and scale and the provision of a City requested small retail space helped to create a streetscape along Harbour Drive that is both pedestrian in scale and more animated than previous developments in the area.
