Updating graphical banners for municipal worksites
As part of Lab centre-ville, led by the Laboratoire d’innovation urbaine de Montréal (Montréal urban innovation lab, or LIUM), a working committee co-ordinated by the Bureau du design is conducting an experimental project to refresh the graphical banners used to beautify the enclosures of municipal worksites.
How to enhance the experience of people who live and travel near the worksites?
The Bureau du design tasked the firm maubau with developing a new series of graphical banners. The mandate covers only the refreshing of the former red and white banners, recognizable by their patterns comprising diamonds, diagonal lines, waves, curves, etc. The informational and wayfinding tools used on worksites will remain unchanged.
The new visuals feature a denser colour grid that breaks away from the current monochromatic blocks, which can invite vandalism and tend to fade more quickly. Having a richer and more diverse colour palette along with refreshed visual representations also enables more nuanced adaptation to the various urban settings where the banners are installed.
The new graphics system has also been designed for easier adoption and rollout by the city’s Communications teams. Instead of designing each layout on a case-by-case basis, users can easily assemble coherent banner sequences using a suite of visuals designed to blend together and complement the other tools in the Toolkit. Emphasizing a more playful approach, the new series of banners features four themed scenes (green space, culture & sports, shopping & entertainment, and heritage) with silhouettes of citizens always featured in the background as a visual element central to living environments.
Trial at the Saint-Antoine collector site
The first of the new banners will be installed in mid-September 2026 on a pilot worksite, the Saint-Antoine sewer collector upgrade.
This trial phase will provide an opportunity to assess the new visuals’ real-world performance and, above all, how they are perceived by people in the area near the worksite.
A reminder that the purpose of the graphical banners is to limit the negative visual impacts of construction worksites and help the surrounding area remain appealing to Montrealers.
Tell us what you think
Industry professionals and citizens alike: we want your opinions on the new banners!
Please complete a short form so we can gather your feedback, especially on the banners' visual impact, how well they fit in with their surroundings, and your impressions of the worksite area.
Your perspective will help us assess the initial trial and shape the next stages of the project.
Complete the evaluation form (starting in mid-September 2026)
