How Quinzecent is making a bold entrance
Montreal’s booming condo market is making it increasingly difficult for any one project to stand out, especially downtown, where the sheer number of developments being built makes it difficult to keep up.
Thanks to its grand entrance, porte-cochère and luxurious, glassed-in lobby that doubles as a coworking space, there’s no denying the mark Quinzecent is sure to make on the city’s core, as well as on its very own residents.
“Inspired by current hotel concepts, our design approach was based on creating generous, accessible spaces that would resonate with all generations and provide owners with what is relevant to each of them,” explains Anne Lafontaine, partner and architect at Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes, the same firm behind projects such as the Grande Bibliothèque, CHUM Research Centre and YUL Condominiums.
“The building’s lobby was designed as a rallying point to facilitate encounters among all owners.”
Quinzecent’s distinctive lobby design is the result of a carefully thought process that included some of the best architects and designers in the city, working together to not only consider its grand appearance, but also its purpose as a multi-use space.
“Of course, a lobby for such a tall building has to be fully functional, but we also focused on providing a beautiful lobby that would exude great sophistication and be used by the owners as an additional common area. Therefore, we thought that this space could also be used as a coworking space,” says Lafontaine.
“To do so, we integrated gathering hubs furnished with an array of comfortable sofas and armchairs as well as tables and chairs, to make the lobby an additional social space to meet, work or to take a break.”
With its 2,350 square feet of space, the lobby at Quinzecent is a contemporary, stylish mix of masculine textures like leather and wood, kept in balance by the flood of natural light that pours in from the floor to ceiling windows, as well as the glass and marble that accessorize the area.
“We wanted owners from every generation to relate to the project. Therefore, we turned to natural materials to create a warm ambiance embellished with vintage-designed leather furniture,” says Lafontaine.
“These high-end finishes will provide seductive spaces and provide a feeling of exclusivity to the tower, bringing all owners together into a new community.”
Situated at 1500 Boulevard René-Lévesque Blvd. on the corner of Guy St., Quinzecent — which is the result of the latest collaboration by Brivia Group and Gansu Tianqing Real Estate Group — was designed to play host to a mix of uses, including residential, commercial and office space. Consisting of 36-storeys in total, the development’s lobby is like its central processing unit: it’s the social skyscraper’s brain.
“The walk-through lobby allows an interior connection between René-Lévesque and Guy streets, as well as with the car drop-off. At first, the front desk was positioned at the centre of it all for functional reasons but it quickly became one of the main features of the space with its embellished background wall,” says Lafontaine.
“We felt that a strong visual connection with the animated intersection would bring some liveliness to the lobby. Therefore, floor-to-ceiling glass walls were provided for most of the façades allowing the lobby to be bathed in daylight during the day while giving it the appearance of a warm and welcoming lantern from the exterior at nightfall.”
Luminous, warm and accessible, Quinzecent’s lobby is the perfect gateway to the rest of the development’s amenities, all located on the third floor, dedicated to improving its residents’ lives with a suite of spa facilities (including a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and aromatherapy showers as well as a fully equipped gym) and a sprawling 6,000 sq. ft. urban garden.
“Our goal was to provide the owners with common spaces that would allow them to foster a sense of belonging and community among the occupants,” says Kheng Ly, founder, president and CEO of Brivia Group. “We thought that each owner should consider the amenities as an extension of their unit and have these spaces feel just like home to them.”
Home suite home indeed. For more information, visit