Enriching public spaces in downtown Montreal with a plan for strategic urban design

Montreal Centre-Ville Strategic Plan for the Enhancement of Open Spaces

Montreal is a vibrant city with diverse and dynamic public spaces that define the urban experience for visitors, workers, and residents alike. Looking to continue elevating the attractiveness and energy in the heart of the city, the Downtown Business Development Corporation, Montréal Centre-Ville engaged us to help implement its very first strategy for enhancing open spaces with installations.

Drawing on global best practices in design, our team developed a strategic plan intended as a flexible, and accessible toolkit to guide downtown urban development consistently for decades to come. This plan identifies the potential of 60 open spaces spread across four neighborhoods. It proposes tailored actions that consider the heritage, history, and environment of each location. Montréal Centre-Ville, the City of Montreal, and other interested parties wishing to set up a temporary or semi-permanent installations in downtown open spaces can use this framework to identify various factors that need to be considered so future projects harmonize with the physical and social environment.

With this strategy in hand, Montréal Centre-Ville has a plan for guiding future developments in downtown Montreal that will continue to enliven this city for years to come.