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The Société de transport de Montréal has opened a new universally accessible entrance building at Mont-Royal station.
The building’s design centres on light and transparency. The concept was inspired by a collective discussion held by the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough to give direction to the design process for future installations at place Gérald-Godin, where Mont-Royal station is located.
“With this project, the borough wanted to transform the station entrance building to fit seamlessly into the surrounding public space by making the most of the light,” says Éric Alan Caldwell, Chair of the STM Board of Directors. “The new structure perfectly meets those expectations, as well as promoting universal accessibility. In addition, the work done represents a huge accomplishment for the STM, as teams were able to completely demolish the old entrance building without ever closing the station!”
“The new Mont-Royal entrance building illustrates an exemplary collaboration between the City of Montréal and the STM, says Laurence Parent, Borough Councillor for the De Lorimier district and Vice-Chair of the STM Board of Directors. “Both organizations took the opportunity presented by this accessibility work to improve not only the way that the public gets around but also the way that they experience the newly designed Place Gérald-Godin, the public square surrounding the station. Now, it is easier for everyone to access the neighbourhood, Mont-Royal Avenue and all the commercial and cultural attractions that the area has to offer. The Board and the STM are firmly dedicated to eliminating obstacles for people with reduced mobility and to providing Montrealers with a city and spaces that are ever more inclusive.”
Work on the project began in 2018 and involved expanding the entrance building to install two elevators, making Mont-Royal the 20th accessible station in the métro network. Two staircases were also added, connecting the platforms to street level, as well as a pedestrian tunnel running over the tracks between the two platforms. These changes will make it easier for customers to move within the station.
« With this new station accessible in the heart of summer, it is now another district, that of Plateau-Mont-Royal, which becomes accessible for our customers with functional limitations,” added Mr. Caldwell.
The new entrance building is now open to the public, but some work still remains to be completed this summer. This includes landscaping, renovations inside part of the station and the last steps of installing a new work of art.
The Mont-Royal station transformation project was completed at a cost of $50 million.
New artwork takes shape
The station will soon boast a new piece by artist Simon Bilodeau, titled Je reviens chez nous [I am coming back home]. The artwork is composed of three panels, each standing over four metres tall and decorated with a mosaic of cast concrete pieces referencing specific aspects of the station’s architecture, surrounding environment, role and history.
Accessibility in the métro
There are currently 11 other station accessibility worksites active at Place-des-Arts, Angrignon, Berri-UQAM (Yellow line), Édouard-Montpetit, D’Iberville, Jolicoeur, McGill, Outremont, Pie-IX, Place-Saint-Henri and Villa-Maria. These improvements will benefit not only customers with motor impairments but also families with young children, elderly people and travellers.
Technical file
Photos
Credit : STM/Julien Perron-Gagné
