To sum up

Located on the site of the earliest harbour activities in Montreal, the Grand Quay is the culmination of the ambitious renovation of the Iberville Passenger Terminal, turning the previously concreted-over, closed to the public into a user-friendly space integrated into a welcoming urban fabric open to citizens. As a result, the cruise terminal can continue to welcome ships and passengers, while providing green spaces, a large, vegetated terrace where visitors can observe ships and envoy the view, a grassy lawn at the water’s edge offering access to the banks of the St Lawrence River and a spectacular observation tower. This project is grounded in the Port of Montreal’s vision to be more open to the community, to become a lasting and positive part of the urban landscape, and to redefine relations between Montreal and its port.

The Port of Montreal’s Grand Quay project stands out for its positive impacts in terms of sustainable development, landscape planning, electric shore power technology for cruise vessels and approach to connecting with the community.

The project includes:

• Renovation of the port’s cruise terminal;

• Development of Promenade d’Iberville, a large green roof atop the cruise terminal featuring an immense wooden terrace and 24,000 flowering and aromatic plants;

• Development of the Port Centre and a brand-new exhibition;

• Lowering of one end of the pier for development of Commencement Square, a vast lawn area on the edge of the water that offers exceptional access to the river;

• Installation of electric shore power technology;

• Building of a specular observation tower.

Once dominated by concrete and restricted to cruise ship passengers only, access to the terminal is now freely available to the public, with integration into the bustling pedestrian district of Old Montreal. With street furniture and public art installations, locals and tourists alike can enjoy the surroundings and appreciate the panoramic views of the river and the city.

Positioning of the project in relation to the Agenda 2030’s goals*

*According to the Port of Montreal

	Directly related	Indirectly related	Not related
Goal 1: Climate change adaptation	x
Goal 2: Energy transition & circular economy	x
Goal 3: Sustainable mobility	x
Goal 4: Renewed governance			x
Goal 5: Investing in human	x
Goal 6: Port Culture & Identity	x
Goal 7: Quality food for all			x
Goal 8: Port city interface	x
Goal 9: Health & life quality		x
Goal 10: Protecting biodiversity		x

 Learn more about the AIVP commitment: Commitment – AIVP

Outstanding features:

• Right from the design phase, the Port of Montreal adopted a people-centered approach. As such, the project was designed in collaboration with the residents who would live and work alongside it, making it possible to ensure greater social acceptability and to meet the needs of the population;
• Showcase of port activities and port-city interface, including an observation tower that is sure to become an architectural landmark of the city;
• Creation of a Port Centre, the first of its kind in Quebec which is helping to change public perception and raise awareness of the port’s history and role in daily life;
• Installation of a timeline running the length of the green roof tracing the history of the port of Montreal from its origins to the present day;
• The choice of materials and the layout of spaces were designed to combine beauty, user-friendliness and ongoing value. For example, the wooden deck on the green roof was made from Western Red Cedar, recognized as one of the longest-lasting Canadian woods, naturally rot-proof and requiring no treatment;
• Installation of shore power, the electricity supplied comes from a renewable energy source (hydroelectricity);
• Dockside connection for wastewater treatment. Thanks to a fruitful collaboration between the port and the city, the system is directly connected to the City of Montreal’s wastewater treatment plant, enabling the ship to avoid discharging wastewater into the St. Lawrence estuary.
• Creation of a 2 200m² green roof (one of the largest green roofs in Montreal) replacing the concrete surface devoid of vegetation. It provides a green oasis. he irrigation system, a necessity due to the roof’s high exposure to sun and wind, adjusts automatically according to data transmitted by a weather station installed on the building.
• Reduction of parking spaces to make way for green spaces and pedestrians.

Images of the project

About Montreal Port Authority

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