Tour KPMG
Encyclopedia
The Tour KPMG, formerly Maison des Coopérants or Place de la Cathédrale, is a 34 storey skyscraper
located in downtown Montreal
that was completed in 1987. It is located at 600 de Maisonneuve Ouest
. It has an official height of 146 m (479 ft). It is built on a plot of land owned by the Christ Church Cathedral, which lies directly in front of the building when viewed from Saint Catherine Street
. The tower was designed by WZMH Architects
and was styled in order to relate to the cathedral located directly adjacent to it. The skyscraper incorporates an underground shopping centre known as Promenades Cathédrale
as part of the Underground City that is directly connected to the Metro
. The building holds offices for the eponymous firm KPMG
, the law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon
, and numerous other businesses.
, the new anchor tenant that occupies floors 8 to 15, as well as the 6th floor.
Part of its local claim to fame was that the Promenades Cathédrale
shopping mall underneath the tower, built at the same time, was built directly beneath the existing Christ Church Cathedral. It was a sight to behold, as the Cathedral was perched on top of cement piles with the soil removed from under it, resulting in a cathedral that seemed to be floating in mid air. From time to time, the building administration runs an exhibit in the shopping mall displaying the construction of the complex. A consequence of this arrangement is that the cathedral no longer has its proverbial basement. The functions traditionally done in the church basement are now performed in a space reserved for the church on the third floor of the tower's east side.
At the time of its opening, the shopping mall
had three floors with a food court
occupying most of the lower floor. Later renovations converted that shopping floor into a second floor of parking garage.
A memorial to Raoul Wallenberg
stands in a small park between the office tower and church, where a bust of Wallenberg and a caged metal box (styled as a barbed-wire gate) stand beside each other.
The building features prominently during the 'Temptation of Christ
' scene in the 1989 Denys Arcand
film Jesus of Montreal
reflecting the tower's status as the most prominent and modern skyscraper built in Montreal during the late 1980s as well as its unique relationship with the church.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
located in downtown Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
that was completed in 1987. It is located at 600 de Maisonneuve Ouest
De Maisonneuve Boulevard
De Maisonneuve Boulevard is a major westbound boulevard located in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is named after the founder of Montreal, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve. De Maisonneuve Boulevard is about 11 kilometres long and begins on Havre Street in the east end, and ends in the...
. It has an official height of 146 m (479 ft). It is built on a plot of land owned by the Christ Church Cathedral, which lies directly in front of the building when viewed from Saint Catherine Street
Saint Catherine Street
This article is about the street in Montreal called the rue Sainte-Catherine in French. For other streets of this name, see Rue Sainte-Catherine ....
. The tower was designed by WZMH Architects
WZMH Architects
WZMH Architects is an architecture company based in Toronto, Canada. The firm was founded in 1961, and is known for the design of landmark structures, skyscrapers, major mixed use, commercial, institutional, residential and hospitality projects, as well as renovation and retrofit projects...
and was styled in order to relate to the cathedral located directly adjacent to it. The skyscraper incorporates an underground shopping centre known as Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale is a major retail complex on Saint Catherine Street in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Originally named Promenades de la Cathédrale, the complex is located beneath Montreal's Anglican Christ Church Cathedral...
as part of the Underground City that is directly connected to the Metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
. The building holds offices for the eponymous firm KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
, the law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon
Blake, Cassels & Graydon
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP – Blakes for short – is a Canadian-based international business law firm. It is one of the "seven sisters" in Toronto, Canada....
, and numerous other businesses.
Overview
The building was originally called Maison des Coopérants for the then-anchor tenant, as can be seen on the inscription in the lobby, however it was later named Place de la Cathédrale. At the end of 2005 the tower was renamed to its current name for KPMGKPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
, the new anchor tenant that occupies floors 8 to 15, as well as the 6th floor.
Part of its local claim to fame was that the Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale is a major retail complex on Saint Catherine Street in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Originally named Promenades de la Cathédrale, the complex is located beneath Montreal's Anglican Christ Church Cathedral...
shopping mall underneath the tower, built at the same time, was built directly beneath the existing Christ Church Cathedral. It was a sight to behold, as the Cathedral was perched on top of cement piles with the soil removed from under it, resulting in a cathedral that seemed to be floating in mid air. From time to time, the building administration runs an exhibit in the shopping mall displaying the construction of the complex. A consequence of this arrangement is that the cathedral no longer has its proverbial basement. The functions traditionally done in the church basement are now performed in a space reserved for the church on the third floor of the tower's east side.
At the time of its opening, the shopping mall
Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale is a major retail complex on Saint Catherine Street in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Originally named Promenades de la Cathédrale, the complex is located beneath Montreal's Anglican Christ Church Cathedral...
had three floors with a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
occupying most of the lower floor. Later renovations converted that shopping floor into a second floor of parking garage.
A memorial to Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish businessman, diplomat and humanitarian. He is widely celebrated for his successful efforts to rescue thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary from the Holocaust, during the later stages of World War II...
stands in a small park between the office tower and church, where a bust of Wallenberg and a caged metal box (styled as a barbed-wire gate) stand beside each other.
The building features prominently during the 'Temptation of Christ
Temptation of Christ
The temptation of Christ is detailed in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. According to these texts, after being baptized, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the Judean desert. During this time, the devil appeared to Jesus and tempted him...
' scene in the 1989 Denys Arcand
Denys Arcand
Georges-Henri Denys Arcand, is a Canadian film director, screenwriter and producer. He has won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2004 for The Barbarian Invasions...
film Jesus of Montreal
Jesus of Montreal
-Plot and allegory:The film centers on a group of actors in Montreal, Canada who are gathered by Daniel, an actor hired by a Roman Catholic site of pilgrimage to present a Passion play in its gardens....
reflecting the tower's status as the most prominent and modern skyscraper built in Montreal during the late 1980s as well as its unique relationship with the church.
See also
- Promenades CathédralePromenades CathédralePromenades Cathédrale is a major retail complex on Saint Catherine Street in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Originally named Promenades de la Cathédrale, the complex is located beneath Montreal's Anglican Christ Church Cathedral...
shopping mall - List of Montreal's 10 tallest skyscrapers
- List of malls in Montreal