Montreal unveils plans to redesign McGill College Avenue into urban 'mini forest'

McGill College Avenue is about to get a new green facelift.

The City of Montreal unveiled the winning design to last year’s submission contest and the reimagining features a collection of trees, rocks, benches, long grass, and an urban pond in a wide-open area in the middle of the storied street.

The ‘mini forest’ is designed by Montreal-based urban planners civiliti, Swedish design studio Mandaworks, and engineering company, SNC-Lavalin.

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The winning submission was based on Montreal’s objectives for the project which included greenery and seating areas.

On connait enfin l’équipe lauréate du concours international de design pour la future place McGill College! Je suis éblouie par la qualité du projet retenu et je suis convaincue que les Montréalais·es vont se l’approprier. https://t.co/vor0kjYuYH #polmtl pic.twitter.com/XGR3rwoNft

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) October 15, 2020

“The redevelopment of the McGill College Avenue square is a major project that will change the image of downtown,” says Mayor Valérie Plante. “The winning concept will really make it possible to experience the city center differently. With the renewal of rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest and the redevelopment of emblematic places such as Square Phillips, the heart of our city will be greener, more pleasant, more resilient and more human.”

The overall budget for the redevelopment of the McGill College Avenue square is $87.1 million and work is expected to begin in 2023.

Until then, here are a few renderings of McGill College’s ‘urban forest’ project.

Courtesy of designmontreal

Courtesy of designmontreal

Courtesy of designmontreal