Header: Vincent Brillant
A massive urban gap in Montreal has been filled with a new public space that does more than just bridge a motorway. Place des Montréalaises is a bold piece of landscape architecture that links the historic Old Montreal district with the modern city centre. Completed in 2026, the project covers a sunken expressway with a multi-level plaza designed by the firm Lemay, artist Angela Silver, and the engineering team at AtkinsRéalis. This space is a direct response to the fact that women are rarely represented in the names of city streets and parks.
A slanted meadow above the traffic
The most noticeable part of the design is a large, floating plane that tilts across the site. This inclined surface holds a huge flowering meadow made up of twenty-one different plant species. These plants are arranged in eighty-six separate clusters that change colour and shape as the seasons pass. By lifting the landscape up, the designers created a quiet escape from the busy streets below while offering clear views of the surrounding skyline.
The meadow also helps with the city’s natural variety. More than half of the entire site is covered in greenery. To the north, a new urban forest provides a calm entrance to the plaza. Planting trees in this spot was a technical challenge because of the railway tunnels and pipes hidden underground. The team chose specific trees that can thrive in shallow soil, ensuring the forest stays healthy and resilient in an urban environment.
Letters and mirrors to remember the past
At the heart of the plaza’s message is a tribute to twenty-one significant women. This includes the fourteen victims of the 1989 École Polytechnique tragedy and seven pioneers who shaped Montreal’s history, such as Ida Roth Steinberg and Jeanne Mance. Rather than using traditional statues, the design uses language and light.
Near the metro entrance, a tall, cylindrical mirror catches the eye. The names of these women are etched into its surface. The letters seem to break apart and spread out from the mirror toward a nearby staircase. This layout encourages people walking by to look at the fragments and mentally put the names back together. It is a way to make sure these women stay part of the city’s daily conversation.
Smart solutions for a complex site
Building a park over a functioning motorway required clever engineering. One of the most interesting features is the oculus, a large circular hole cut right through the suspended meadow. While it looks like a purely artistic choice, it serves a practical purpose. It allows a large elm tree planted at the lower street level to grow up through the structure. This opening also makes the concrete deck lighter, reducing the stress on the supports below.
The plaza also talks to the buildings around it. It sits right next to the Champ-de-Mars metro station, which is famous for its large stained-glass windows by Marcelle Ferron. The new design ensures that people on the plaza have a great view of these colourful glass panels. Additionally, the project involved updating the nearby Place Marie-Josèphe-Angélique, making the whole area feel like one connected destination.
New social hub for Montreal
Since it opened its doors in 2025, the plaza has become a popular spot for locals and visitors. A wide staircase doubles as a place to sit, turning the edge of the meadow into an outdoor theatre for people-watching. The open spaces are used for everything from quiet lunches to planned art shows and community rallies.
With this new project, Montreal has gained a landmark that looks toward the future while finally acknowledging the women of its past. It is a functional piece of the city that manages to be a park and a powerful history lesson in one.
Project info
Client and project manager: City of Montreal
Architecture and landscape architecture: Lemay
Artist and project partner: Angela Silver
Structural engineering: AtkinsRéalis and ELEMA experts-conseils
Civil/Mechanical/Electrical engineering: AtkinsRéalis Contractor: Construction Génix
Lighting: Ombrage
Planting strategy: Lemay and Isabelle Dupras
Source: v2com newswire
