Renaissance: A City Lifts Its Eyes Again

In the heart of downtown Montréal stands a cathedral with a story few outside the city know — a near-replica of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the seat of the Archdiocese, and home to a reserved papal apartment. Despite its scale and significance, it has faded from public view, overshadowed by the towers of the financial district and left in darkness for decades. The client initially sought a revenue-generating show. Our analysis revealed a deeper need: before creating an attraction, the cathedral itself had to reclaim its place as one.

Our studio proposed a comprehensive vision — architectural, cultural, civic — aimed at restoring the cathedral’s presence and symbolic authority, transforming it into a luminous landmark and a true house for all Montrealers. A renaissance grounded in heritage yet firmly turned toward the future.

The Signal Element
At the center of the project is a new public gathering space, conceived as an urban ritual site. A monumental bell is brought down to street level, accessible and tangible. In the façade’s alcoves, reclaimed bells from closed Montréal churches form a melodic, identity-shaping carillon, giving the metropolis a new auditory signature. A procession of bronze giants — figures from different eras of Montréal’s history — advances toward the cathedral doors, creating a contemporary ceremonial path. This ensemble anchors the site in memory, emotion, and civic pride.

Lighting the Cathedral
The cathedral currently disappears after sunset. Our exterior lighting design envelops the building in refined, golden warmth, with the three domes glowing from within like embers at the centre of the city. This subtle radiance gives Montréal a new nocturnal landmark — a beacon of welcome, continuity, and renewal.

Inside, a complete relighting and a new multimedia infrastructure support an immersive permanent experience honouring Montréal’s soul and the people who built it, complemented by a museum-style discovery trail revealing the building’s architecture, secrets, and legacy.

The Event Hall
The final pillar of the project is an audacious contemporary event hall: a vast glass structure overlooking the cathedral’s dome and the urban park. Situated in the business district, it is designed for prestigious weddings, cultural moments, and corporate gatherings. Beyond its architectural impact, it provides a sustainable economic engine ensuring the long-term vitality and independence of the cathedral.

A Bold Cultural Gesture
This project reconnects a city with one of its foundational symbols, reclaims a forgotten monument, and invites residents and visitors alike to lift their eyes again toward a place that belongs to all of them — renewed, illuminated, and ready for the century ahead.