History in the making: La Tour Fides
An iconic modernist building that served as the headquarters for Les Éditions Fides publishing house from 1964 to 1982 is getting a makeover that represents the future of residential real estate.
La Tour Fides is renowned for its eye-catching, art deco
insignia on René-lévesque Boulevard, in the Quartier des spectacles. Now it is being transformed into a contemporary residential development with unobstructed views of the city skyline, Mont Royal and the Old Port, as well as the St. Lawrence River.
“With regards to the project’s design, the biggest challenge was keeping with the unique architectural signature of the iconic Fides façade and blending it with Montreal’s new cultural identity,” says Majd Al Jundy, who is head of marketing for developer MTL Développement.
Designed by BLTA, the project will house about 300 luxury condos, including 30 fully automated smart studios, four penthouses and three townhouses with a variety of floorplans to choose from — all within walking distance of the CHUM superhospital and major universities Mcgill, Concordia and UQAM.
It is also close to Place des Arts, Montreal’s opera house and vibrant Ste-catherine Street.
“At 19 storeys tall, the new Fides tower will provide a contemporary outlook on the city where residents can enjoy an awe-inspiring perspective of our journey from past to present, into the future, along
with the unobstructed views,” says MTL Développement president Labid Aljundi.
Spread out over four structures — the existing ninestorey building, the 19-storey Fides tower, a seven-storey building on Hôtel-de-ville Avenue and three, three-storey modern townhouses on Steelizabeth Street that connect to four levels of underground parking — the development stands out for its variety of residential options, including both furnished and unfurnished studios as well as one- to three-bedroom luxury units, plus penthouses and townhouses.
“There are a limited number of smart studios that represent the next generation of smart home technology and combine automation with space optimization that are located on the top floors of La Tour Fides,” Al Jundy says. “In them, you can use your voice to adjust the room temperature or motorized blinds, control the lighting or turn on your 43-inch smart TV.”
All of the smart studios come fully equipped with a murphy bed and a transformer desk/table, to easily make the transition from working to entertaining, LED lighting that is fully colour customizable with 16 million colours to choose from and millwork that was designed to optimize every square inch of the space.
“It’s an ideal product for a client looking for a turn-key home in the heart of the action,” says Al Jundy.
Inspired by the building’s modernist esthetic and history, the interiors of La Tour Fides combine the energy of the urban landscape with a cohesive interior palette and a design-forward sensibility that unites the old and the new — and establishes a sense of refinement in both the project’s common areas and private units.
All of the floor plans were carefully crafted with sophisticated finishes, smart layouts and an abundance of natural light, and with Montreal’s skyline as the background.
The unique one-bedroom, corner Kawabata model offers a particularly high return on investment, measuring just over 600 square feet with a 50-square-foot loggia off the living room. It’s available to visit via a 3D tour.
The floor plan consists of a closed bedroom, open-concept living, dining and kitchen areas and a bathroom, as
well as integrated storage in both the entrance and bedroom and lots of windows to enjoy both sunrise and sunset views.
Countertops and cabinetry that are available in a variety of high-end finishes provide the floor plan with a chic, timeless style and each unit is equipped with European kitchen appliances that include an integrated panel fridge, dishwasher, glass cooktop and wall convection oven.
La Tour Fides’ amenities, which are spread out over 11,000 square feet on the ground floor of the main tower, in the building on Hôtel-deville Avenue and underground
(where the squash court, shared bikes and pet grooming room are), are covered in a mix of quartz, chrome and wood, striking the perfect balance between classic and contemporary.
They include a range of offerings, such as:
• A café, terrace, social
lounge and business centre
• A lobby with 24/7 concierge, cold parcel storage and a library
• A cinema, pool, spa, gym, yoga studio and game room
• Four levels of underground parking that are connected to each building, with power outlets and electric conduits for the future installation of an EV charging station in each parking space
• A guest suite.
The contemporary project is scheduled for delivery in 2023 and the sales office is located at 20 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Que., H2X 1Z3.
For more information about La Tour Fides, visit