Casino of Montréal
the World Of Hospitality
71
Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux +
Provencher Roy Architectes
Light is omnipresent and is projected by the many
lights as well as filtered through the backlit walls.
It benefits from the permeability of the space, like
the immense open palisade made of laser chiselled
chrome pipes that separates the gambling areas from
the recreational areas.
In turn, Montreal’s spirit is conveyed on a
monumental media screen, designed by the
architects and programmed by the firm Moment
Factory. It spans over five floors in the middle of
the building and is transformed into a permanent
multimedia presentation zone. The Casino thus
becomes a space to share Montreal’s culture and
creativity. A rare occurrence for this type of project,
the Casino’s redevelopment was transformed into a
true experimental laboratory. A special research and
development budget was planned to develop and test
new materials, structures and lightings. This creativity
was led to change the traditional perception of the
space’s functionality. The walls became signs, ambient
lighting and visual identity support.
The interior design team at Moureaux Hauspy, part of
Provencher Roy, collaborated on the interior redesign
of the whole project, including the entrances, gambling
areas, common areas and the VIP zone. It appointed
the firm Blazysgerard to work on redesigning the
restaurants on Level 5. Respect for visitors and the
historic site. Despite the duration and the extent of the
Architects: Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux + Provencher Roy Architectes
works, the operational flexibility of the teams involved
in this project will have allowed the Casino to continue
its operations without causing major interruptions or
inconveniences to the clientele.
Moreover, the architects minimised the impact of
their intervention on Expo 67’s historical site and
respected the identity of the former French pavilion.
For example, they used the same original architectural
language to redesign the new main entrance. Plus, the
new galleries housing the administrative offices were
placed in a new landscaping that honours Expo 67’s
former basins and watersheds.
www.msdl.ca
www.provencherroy.ca
Photographs: Stéphane Groleau, Marc Cramer