The Montreal Holocaust Museum (MHM) is proud to announce the winner of the international architectural competition for the development of its new Museum, located at 3535 Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal.

Over the course of Phase 1 of the competition, the Museum received 32 proposals from 9 countries, which were submitted anonymously to the jury. The jury then selected four finalists, who developed their projects in an interdisciplinary mode in Phase 2 of the competition. The four teams were Atelier TAG et L’OEUF architectes en consortium, Saucier+Perrotte Architectes, KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker and Pelletier de Fontenay + NEUF architect(e)s.

The jury met in the first week of July 2022 and, after deliberation, selected the project presented by:
o KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker

In light of the objectives and evaluation criteria set out in the competition rules, this project stood out for its integration into the urban context, the clarity of its organization of spaces and the integration of gardens into the museum experience. The jury also noted that this team had a strong understanding of the Holocaust Museum’s mission and had approached the subject with great sensitivity.

The jury welcomes the arrival of the Montreal Holocaust Museum on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in downtown Montreal. The Museum further promotes its values of inclusion and education by establishing its presence in the heart of this central location that was once home to many immigrant communities.

The Montreal Holocaust Museum expresses its gratitude to all the teams that took part in the competition and is very enthusiastic about continuing to work with the winner in the development of the project. The new Museum is scheduled to open in September 2025.

Publication of the projects and jury reports

To view all submitted projects and jury reports, visit the Canadian Competitions Catalogue.

Winning project: KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture

“Firmly anchored in Montreal, rooted in its history, our museum gives voice to the survivors of this city, inscribing their words on the walls of the building. Drawing our inspiration from the singular character and history of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and the neighbourhood, we give the building a significance characterized by the genius of the place and its time. Ultimately it is the experience of the visitors – the students, the onlookers, the out-of-town visitors, the survivors’ families – that will determine the success of the museum. For some members of the team, this story is personal, and the journey we have taken together through this competition has moved us all. It would be a tremendous honor to be able to realize, in concert with you, this highly significant museum.”

Images of the future Museum

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Exterior view of the new Museum from Saint-Laurent

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Interior perspective

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Ambient perspective - landscape design

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Interior perspective

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Interior perspective, commemorative space

1. The Competition

The Montreal Holocaust Museum announces the launch of an international architectural competition for the design of a new building for the Museum on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal.

The Museum invites architects to submit their candidatures to a competition that calls on their creativity to address the important issues of places dedicated to Holocaust remembrance and, more importantly, to the education of future generations to the universal risks of racism, antisemitism, hatred and indifference.

The MHM is recognized for its leadership role in Holocaust education, preservation and transmission of Holocaust remembrance and history in Canada, and for its work on contemporary human rights issues.

The Museum aims to achieve the highest level of architectural excellence, to make a lasting impression on the landscape of Saint-Laurent Boulevard, to connect with new audiences, and to create a significant impact on present and future generations.

1.1 Site

The Montreal Holocaust Museum has acquired a site situated at 3535 Saint-Laurent Boulevard to construct a new Museum. The site is in the centre of the alley-less block bordered by Sherbrooke, Saint-Dominique and Prince- Arthur streets and Saint-Laurent Boulevard

Saint-Laurent Boulevard is rich in history and has significant symbolic and heritage importance for the Jewish community and for the francophone, anglophone, and all immigrant communities. It is a symbol of cultural diversity, a space of artistic and technological creativity and laboratory of ideas.

This symbolism of place has contributed significantly to the choice of the site.

The site, which has been vacant for more than forty years, has a surface area of nearly 1860 square meters and a frontage on the boulevard of 44 meters. It is currently occupied by a large outdoor parking area and two vernacular buildings located on the southwest corner of the site.

1.2 Budget

The construction budget was estimated at CAD 27,880,000 before taxes.

1.3 Issues and challenges

The key issues and challenges facing designers in the project are:

- The architecture must appeal to current and future generations, not only visitors but also the citizens and decision-makers of tomorrow.

- The architecture must contribute to the expression of the Museum's values of inclusion, equality and respect for diversity, notably by reinforcing the Museum's presence in the public space.

- The architecture must allow for a dialogue between spaces dedicated to commemoration and reflection and those dedicated to learning and awareness in a journey that opens perspectives between the present, the past, and the future.

- The new Museum must fit into the site and assert its presence in a contemporary and sensitive manner, taking into account the historical and symbolic aspects related to Saint- Laurent Boulevard and the existing buildings on the site.

- The new Museum must take advantage of the effervescence and diversity of Saint- Laurent Boulevard to create a platform open to encounters and exchanges through accessible and convivial public spaces

- Outdoor spaces should be designed to integrate with the Museum and enrich the visitor experience.

- Innovative solutions should be used to provide flexible spaces that allow for various activities and respond to changing needs.

- The building must meet or exceed current standards and implement best practices, particularly in museology, universal accessibility and sustainable development.

- The Museum is aiming for LEED Silver certification, the intention being to create an exemplary building in terms of sustainable development, both in terms of respect for the environment and the quality of the proposed spaces.

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Saint-Laurent Boulevard, looking north

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Saint-Laurent Boulevard, looking south

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Saint-Dominique Street, looking north

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Saint-Dominique Street, looking south

2. Competition Formula and Key Dates

The architectural competition will take place in two principal stages and is intended to create a dialogue between the teams and the Museum.

Finalists will be selected on the basis of the ideas which offer the most potential for the project.

It is intended that the level of advancement and the quantity of deliverables expected from teams be limited and directed towards understanding the fundamental characteristics of the project. This will allow for the development of the winning project with the collaboration of the Museum following the competition.

Stage 1: Project Portfolio

1.1 Qualification - December 1, 2021 to January 28, 2022

Stage 1.1 aims to qualify teams that can successfully undertake the project through a qualification dossier presenting the composition of the team and relevant completed projects.

1.2 Proposal: Conceptual Intentions and Spatial Strategies - February 9 to March 16, 2022

Stage 1.2 is designed to encourage ideas, interpretations, and approaches for the new Museum. Based on the concepts and spatial strategies submitted anonymously, four proposals will be selected as finalists by the jury.

Stage 2: Architectural Solutions and Interdisciplinary Development

2.1 Team completion - April 11 to May 18, 2022

Stage 2.1 will see the introduction of the structural and electromechanical engineers as well as landscape architects who will join the finalists to form a multidisciplinary team for the next stage.

2.2 Architectural solutions and interdisciplinary development - April 11 to June 1 2022

Stage 2.2 is paid CAD 119,000 and will allow the four finalist teams to further develop the concepts presented in stage 1.2. Guided by the jury’s comments, they will create architectural solutions and develop the project in an interdisciplinary manner.

Architectural competition of the Ordre des architectes du Québec

Due to present circumstances, all entries will be digital. All activities related to the competition will be conducted virtually.

 

3. Jury

Daniel Amar

Executive Director, Montreal Holocaust Museum

Izabel Amaral

Architect, Director of the School of Architecture, Université de Montréal

Vedanta Balbahadur

Architect, Studio Vedanta Balbahadur, Lecturer, McGill University

Giovanna Borasi

Director, Canadian Centre for Architecture

Frank Chalk

Founding Co-Director, Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, Professor, Department of History, Concordia University

Isabel Hérault

Architect, Hérault Arnod Architectures, Paris

Eva Kuper

Educator and Holocaust survivor, Member of the Museum's Board of Directors

Philippe Lupien

Architect and Landscape Architect, Lupien+Matteau, Professor - School of Design, UQAM

Sophie Robitaille

Landscape architect and urban designer, RobitailleCurtis