1000 de La Gauchetière

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1000 de la Gauchetière
General information
Type Office
Location Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates 45°29′54″N 73°33′59″W﻿ / ﻿45.498243°N 73.566274°W﻿ / 45.498243; -73.566274Coordinates: 45°29′54″N 73°33′59″W﻿ / ﻿45.498243°N 73.566274°W﻿ / 45.498243; -73.566274
Completed 1992
Client Bell Canada and Teleglobe
Owner Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec: SITQ
Roof 205 m (673 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 51
Floor area 153,300 m2 (1,650,000 sq ft)[1]
Lifts/elevators 22
Design and construction
Architecture firm Lemay & Associates, Dimakopoulos & Associates
Main contractor Pomerleau

1000 de la Gauchetière is a skyscraper in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is named for its address at 1000 De la Gauchetière Street West in the city's downtown. It is Montreal's tallest building. It rises to the maximum height approved by the city (the elevation of Mount Royal) at 205 m (673 ft) and 51 floors. A popular feature of this building is its atrium which holds a large ice skating rink.


The building was designed by Lemay & Associates and Dimakopoulos & Associates architects, and built in 1992 at the same time as the nearby 1250 René-Lévesque which rises at 47 floors. It is an example of Postmodern Architecture, with a distinctive triangular copper roof as well as four copper-capped rotunda entrances at the tower base corners. Those were inspired from the Mary, Queen of the World, Cathedral on the north side of the building, following the trend set by Place de la Cathédrale (Tour KPMG) of Montreal skyscrapers borrowing some of their design from that of the nearest church. Also, the semi-spherical corner caps mirror the shape of the half-circular windows of neighbouring Marriott Château Champlain hotel, which were themselves inspired by the arches of the adjoining Windsor Station.

The 1000 de la Gauchetière was built by Pomerleau Inc. the largest construction company in Quebec and one of the top General Contractors in Canada.

When it was built, 1000 de la Gauchetière was owned jointly by Bell Canada and Teleglobe. In 2002, SITQ, a division of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDP Capital), bought the building for $184 million CAD.

Height and architecture[edit]

To be precise, the tower is Montreal's tallest if measured to the roof; 1250 René-Lévesque possesses a spire and the CIBC Tower possess an antenna that exceeds 1000 de La Gauchetière in height, but the buildings themselves are shorter. Also, when viewed as part of the skyline, 1000 de la Gauchetière appears from certain angles to be shorter; this is because it is built on lower ground, allowing it to be taller while still obeying height restrictions.

The building's structural core is of concrete, with steel making up the rest of the floorplates. It is serviced by 22 elevators, and its recessed corners allow up to twelve corner offices per floor.

The building's architecture is similar to that of the Chase Tower in Dallas, Texas, United States, but with the street-level architecture projecting out in a distinct style, reducing the visual and psychological impact of the entire building from this viewpoint. Such details are features of postmodern architecture.


In addition to its office space and shopping areas, it includes a full-size indoor ice skating rink, a physical fitness centre, a major bus terminal (the Downtown Terminus) serving RTL city and commuter buses to Longueuil, Brossard and other South Shore communities, and links to other underground city buildings, Central Station, Lucien L'Allier Station and the Bonaventure Metro station.


See also[edit]

Patinoire Atrium le 1000.


External links[edit]