The building’s renewed presence meets modern ecological standards through the use of sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, LED lighting, recycled materials, and finishes from renewable resources. Located at 251 Saint-Catherine Street West in Montreal, Quebec – the new flagship store is the largest Holt Renfrew store in Canada, occupying 6 floors. The expansion consolidated the existing Holt Renfrew store into the Ogilvy building. What followed was an extensive process to consolidate, upgrade and expand the elegant Ogilvy building. The new store is directly connected to the prestigious Four Seasons hotel complex and private residences, located on De La Montagne.

Transdisciplinary approach

The project required in-depth coordination for the seamless integration of the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, as both buildings share connected spaces, despite being two separate real estate entities. Lemay and its collaborators’ exceptional eye for detail is evident through all 6 floors. The flagship is comprised of hard shops (separate, self-contained mini boutiques), soft shops (which maintain the look of the surrounding store, except for each retailer’s wall coverings, furniture, and logos), fixture drops (with the retailer’s own cabinetry and walls) and finally ribbon walls, that separate open spaces and showcase retailers’ products.

Preserving heritage elements

It was paramount to the project team that the new Holt Renfrew Ogilvy flagship meet modern sustainability standards. While extensive reconstruction and system upgrades were necessary including front revolving doors, octagonal columns, spiral staircase, elevator facades – the stone on the exterior of the building was also reworked, in addition to the windows and moldings being changed. Otherwise, the remainder of the building was kept in its original state.

Holt Renfrew Ogilvy today

The store is now home to over 99 luxury stores. It combines a modern aesthetic with key heritage elements, reminiscent of the store when it first opened in 1912. Holt Renfrew Ogilvy is one of four major west-end retailers in Montreal that still operates under its original name. It was rebranded to Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in 2019 and underwent a significant renovation and expansion that was completed in 2020.

Customers can also discover L’espace Holt – Holt Renfrew’s exclusive pop-up show and incubator space, featuring curated collections and limited-edition products from local and international designers. Additionally, the prominent Café Holt is located on the 2nd floor of the building. Its inviting use of warm woods, brown carpeting, and gold embellishments are reminiscent of the 1940s Hollywood Gatsby era. The café was designed by a Parisian design firm, Laplace.

The 1912 stone edifice now hosts Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, a merger of two of Canada’s most enduring department stores. Lemay’s strategic expertise guided extensive reconstruction and system upgrades, resulting in a space that combines a modern aesthetic with key heritage elements. This major renovation contributes to the cultural development of the architectural heritage of Montreal.

Data sheet  

Design – store: Jeffrey Hutchinson & Associates & Lemay

Design – Café Holt: Laplace & Lemay

Construction timeline: 2017 – 2020

About Lemay

Lemay has been imagining new ways to create spaces that engage users and bring people together since 1957. Over 450 architects, designers, and change-makers work together to cultivate innovation in their own backyards and in communities around the world. The firm finds its strength in transdisciplinarity and has developed its very own Net PositiveTM approach to guide teams towards sustainable solutions that shape a better future. With the human experience at its heart, Lemay strives to embraces constraints and build spaces to grow.