Destination Centre-Ville, the downtown Montreal commercial development association, in collaboration with Îlot 84, is thrilled to announce the creation of Le Petit Montréal. Located directly on Phillips Square, all summer, Le Petit Montréal offer tourists, citizens, and downtown workers a lush oasis where they can relax in the middle of the Sainte-Catherine Street construction site. Big communal tables, string lights, design furniture, shady relaxation spaces – these are some of the things, shoppers, stopping there to unwind, or workers lunching outdoor will find.

Meeting the challenges of construction work and enhancing the heritage

Emanating from lengthy reflection, Le Petit Montréal meets several challenges: respecting the intuitive movement of people, imagining a refreshing space, providing seating without blocking the natural traffic, anticipating the impacts on merchants and pedestrians, showcasing heritage elements of the Square, etc. 

With its elevated terrace, Le Petit Montréal allows access to a new point of view, not only overlooking downtown but most of all the construction site, making it possible to observe and better understand it. Its large staircase acts as both stands highlighting the statue, but also as a wall blocking the noise nuisance of the construction work on Sainte-Catherine Street. 

By adding unobtrusive furniture and a pink line on the ground that delineates the space while being eye-catching, Phillips Square has transformed into a genuine relaxation area, where you can share a meal or play board games. Two of the three containers supporting the structure have also been furnished to create interactive, informative spaces for tourists and neighbourhood workers. This makes this park a must-see for anyone visiting downtown. 

With its lively, friendly atmosphere, Le Petit Montréal aims to transform the Sainte-Catherine Street construction site into a refreshing, 100% Montreal experience. It is with this in mind that Destination Centre-Ville worked with Îlot 84 organization, which is now renowned for the popular success of open-air co-working space Aire commune Mile End. That site has generated economic benefits of nearly 1 million dollars for the businesses surrounding it.

“Sainte-Catherine Street is in transformation, and it is essential for it to maintain its charm and attractiveness in spite of the construction site. Le Petit Montréal will attract visitors and workers near the construction site, increasing traffic in the stores and restaurants in the vicinity. This is a brand new initiative downtown. Our intention is to create an annual rendezvous that can move along Sainte-Catherine Street, mirroring the progress of the construction work.” Émile Roux, Executive Director of Destination Centre-Ville

“Proposing very a different concept and uses here, Îlot 84 remains convinced that a pleasant public space highlighting local businesses will create important economic benefits,” Marie-Pier Tessier de L’Étoile, Executive Director of Îlot 84.

Visual Identity: Paul Transon

Design and Scenography: Sophie Julien

Technical Drawing: Simon April

Carpentry: Jean-Pierre Groulx and Yves Bossé

Supervision: Laurent Lussier, production manager

Photo: Loïc Romer

About Destination Centre-Ville, the downtown Montreal commercial development association

Destination Centre-Ville is dedicated to developing, improving and promoting downtown Montreal activities. Its territory, which includes mainly the whole downtown Montreal, is covering the 8,000 business places located between Atwater Avenue and Saint-Antoine, Saint-Urbain and Sherbrooke streets. Their mandate is to make sure that downtown Montreal is a clean, safe and dynamic area of international scope where tourists, workers and customers enjoy shopping, working and living in general.

About Îlot 84 / Aire commune 

Îlot 84, the organization behind Aire commune, is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to revitalize urban spaces through cultural, artistic and professional projects. Initiated by five experienced event entrepreneurs, the team at Aire commune promotes a vision of an effervescent city made dynamic by shared sites that are out of the ordinary. Ideation, production, development: all the project phases are done by a versatile and ambitious team.