The Arrondissement de Ville-Marie is launching a landscape architecture competition for the redesign of Lot 066 and its vicinity. The project aims to transform this vacant area and three of the four surrounding streets into a new public space with a neighbourhood focus that is in keeping with the principles of resilient, inclusive cities.
This competition will lead to the repurposing of Lot 066, located in downtown Montréal’s Quartier des spectacles, with a view to creating a cooling island and a new gathering place for residents of the district, along with workers and visitors.
Lot 066, just north of Place des Festivals, is a vacant space that previously served as a parking lot and is partly used as a backstage area during outdoor festivals and events. In 2018, a series of public consultations on redevelopment of the site showed that people want to have access to more green spaces in this built-up area dominated by hardscapes. The project aims to respond to that shared aspiration and to design:
- an urban garden that promotes biodiversity and user comfort;
- a meeting place that promotes harmonious cohabitation by a diversity of users, incorporating universal design and community concepts;
- a multifunctional space combining versatility and flexibility, given its location at the interface of a living environment and the Quartier des spectacles.
In addition to redevelopment of Lot 066, the project includes repurposing of three of the street sections adjoining the site, Boulevard De Maisonneuve Ouest, Rue Jeanne-Mance and Avenue du Président-Kennedy, so as to integrate them into the new public space. Competitors are also requested to submit development-concept intentions for the stretch of Rue De Bleury that lies west of the lot, where an entrance to the Place-des-Arts métro station is located. Lastly, part of the site must be designed to allow use as a logistics zone during events held in the Quartier des spectacles.
The budget for completion of the project is $8.5 million, taxes included.
This competition is:
- a multidisciplinary landscape architecture competition;
- international in scope;
- held in two stages;
- a project competition leading to a contract to execute the project.
Stage 1
All competitors are invited to submit their anonymous proposal, presenting an overall idea of the project aspirations in accordance with the objectives of the competition. The jury will retain a maximum of five proposals. This first stage is anonymous and unpaid.
Stage 2
The finalists attend an information meeting, and are then invited to expand upon their idea and present their service offering to the jury at a public hearing. At the end of this stage, which is paid, the jury will select and recommend to the city a winner.
Stage 1
Any team or firm that meets the following conditions is eligible to enter Stage 1:
- Consists of at least two designers, including a lead designer who:
- has been a member of a professional order or association in the field of landscape architecture or architecture for more than five years;
OR - graduated at least 10 years ago from a university program leading to the design or completion of development projects on public land;
AND - has at least five years’ professional experience in similar projects.
- has been a member of a professional order or association in the field of landscape architecture or architecture for more than five years;
Stage 2
Any team or firm that meets the eligibility conditions for Stage 1 and comprises, at a minimum, the following persons is eligible to continue on to Stage 2:
- A co-ordinator who:
- has been a certified member of a professional order or association in the field of landscape architecture or architecture for more than 10 years, and is authorized to practise their profession in Québec under the applicable laws, as the case may be;
AND - has completed at least one spatial design project on public land worth at least $10 million in construction costs, OR three spatial design projects on public land worth at least $5 million each in construction costs;
AND - The co-ordinator of the team must be present in Québec for the duration of the project;
- has been a certified member of a professional order or association in the field of landscape architecture or architecture for more than 10 years, and is authorized to practise their profession in Québec under the applicable laws, as the case may be;
- A landscape architect:
- who has been a certified member of the AAPQ or a member in good standing of a professional order or association in the field of landscape architecture for at least five years;
OR - is a university graduate in landscape architecture having obtained their degree at least 10 years ago;
- who has been a certified member of the AAPQ or a member in good standing of a professional order or association in the field of landscape architecture for at least five years;
- A civil engineer:
- who has been a member of a provincial or national order of engineers for at least 10 years and is authorized to practise the profession of engineer in Québec under the applicable laws;
AND - The civil engineer on the team must be present in Québec for the duration of the project.
- who has been a member of a provincial or national order of engineers for at least 10 years and is authorized to practise the profession of engineer in Québec under the applicable laws;
Complete information regarding eligibility may be found in the Competition Rules, on the Système électronique d’appel d’offres (SEAO) website.
The jury is the same for both stages of the competition, and comprises the following individuals:
- Élise Beauregard, landscape architect, c.M.Sc.F. urban soil specialist
- Rami Bebawi, architect, Partner, KANVA
- Vincent Lemay, landscape architect, Arrondissement de Ville-Marie, Ville de Montréal
- Charles Ormsby, civil engineer, Arup
- Marjorie Pratte, landscape architect, Partner, Pratte Paysage +
- Marie-Claude Séguin, landscape architect, Division Head – Aménagement des parcs urbains et espaces publics, Service des grands parcs, du Mont-Royal et des sports, Ville de Montréal
- Juan Torres, urbanist, Professor, École d’urbanisme et d’architecture de paysage, Faculté de l’aménagement, Université de Montréal
Competitors (Stage 1)
No fees or allowances will be paid at this stage of the competition.
Finalists (Stage 2)
Each finalist who presents a service offering deemed compliant with the Rules will receive a lump sum of $50,000, taxes included.
Winner
The maximum amount budgeted for the professional fees to be paid to the winner is $1.14 million, taxes included (and including the fees paid for Stage 2).
Interested competitors must obtain the competition documents through the Système électronique d’appel d’offres (SÉAO) website (prior registration is required to do so). The documents will be available from October 14, 2020, to November 25, 2020.
Competitors’ and finalists’ complete proposal or service offering files must be received by the following dates:
Stage 1 / Anonymous proposals
November 25, 2020, noon Eastern time
Stage 2 / Finalists’ service offerings
February 23, 2021, noon Eastern time
All communications must be e-mailed to the competition professional consultant at: [email protected]
Given the health crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and depending on how the situation evolves, the Ville de Montréal may be required to amend the competition timetable and the conditions for presentations to the jury
This competition is being held in compliance with the proposed Règlement type pour un concours d'architecture, pluridisciplinaire ou de design de la Ville de Montréal (model rules for an architectural, multidisciplinary, or design competition sponsored by the Ville de Montréal) approved by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH).
