Project of the week: La Tour Fides
Mention the Fides building to any native Montrealer and you’re likely to get a similar response: they might not remember exactly what the building looks like but they can picture its sign, and the striking art deco typeface, perfectly.
“We respect the building’s history and its connection to the city, which is why we decided to keep the original sign as well as the historic façade — to pay homage to Montreal’s past, present and future,” explained Labid Aljundi, president and CEO of MTL Développement, the Montreal-based developer behind the new project being built on the site of the heritage building at the corner of René-lévesque Boulevard East and Hôtel-deville Avenue.
“Along with the project’s architecture firm, Béïque Legault Thuot Architectes (BLTA), we focused a lot of our attention on both preserving and recreating the spirit of the existing building in the new, state-of-theart tower that’s being built adjacent to it, so that they talk to each other in a very refined way.”
Originally built in 1964 to house Les Éditions Fides, the publisher who first occupied the building, La Tour Fides, the 19-floor development that’s being built next to the existing seven-storey building, will house a total of 280 condo units.
The project also includes three townhouses and impressive amenities, including an indoor pool, gym and spa, as well as a café. Commercial space is also being planned for the ground floor of the main tower.
MTL Développement, founded in 2014, is behind several large-scale projects including Le Bourbon, which it is on the verge of finalizing. Aljundi also presides over
Maison Bourbon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable spaces for community organizations.
Neighbourhood
Located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles near the Financial District, the neighbourhood surrounding La Tour Fides includes the CHUM hospital and L’université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in and around Place des Arts, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and Place des Festivals, the Old Port and BERRI-UQAM and Champ-demars métro stations, not to mention many trendy bars and restaurants.
“Traditionally, our main customers would be business people and professionals who work downtown, as well as students and investors,” said Aljundi.
“Because of the project’s unique proximity to the CHUM, one of the largest health-care centres in Canada, we’re also expecting health-care workers, as well as patients who need to live near the hospital during their treatment period.”
Design and architecture
The transformation of the current Fides building into La Tour Fides, with its modern, soaring glass tower and adjacent smaller buildings, was carefully designed to both “respect the city’s vision of the building, and of the surrounding streets,” Aljundi said.
“The townhouses and amenities are an important part of the dynamic between both, as we aim to focus on comfort, quality and luxury while also optimizing space and, perhaps most importantly, creating a sense of community with the surrounding neighbourhood.”
La Tour Fides’s interiors will be outfitted with durable and timeless finishes, including a choice of marble or quartz countertops, engineered wood flooring and ceramic countertops, in a choice of contemporary colours meant to instill a sense of harmony and luminosity.
Condos, townhouses and penthouses
• 280 condos, including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units
• Four penthouses situated on the tower’s top two floors
• Three three-storey townhouses (with the top floor being a rooftop terrace), designed specifically with families in mind
Amenities
• Business centre
• Cinema
• Gym
• Fides coffee lounge
• Games lounge (including billiards, Ping Pong, and other TBD)
• Bike sharing
• Yoga lounge
• Sauna and Jacuzzi
• Squash court
• Large indoor pool
• Dog and bike wash
• Parcel cooling lockers (for meal prep. deliveries, etc.)
• Guest suites
La Tour Fides residents will also benefit from being able to receive — and house — friends and family in one of the project’s guest suites, which will be available to rent.
Delivery and sales office
La Tour Fides launched in May and is scheduled for delivery in 2022. The sales office is located at 235 Renélévesque
Blvd. E., Office 310, Montreal, QC, H2X 1N8. For more information, visit latourfides.com.