The result of a rich reflection on Cree culture and traditions, the Odea complex will stand out from neighboring buildings, on the threshold of Montreal. The Cree Nation, by giving life to land purchased in 1995, takes the opportunity to express its specificity, in a spirit of reconciliation.
Posted at 12:00 p.m.
Construction of the complex has begun, at the junction of Old Montreal, downtown and Griffintown. The 25-storey tower will feature 264 rental apartments and 171 condos, as well as nearly 1,000 m2 commercial premises on the ground floor. At the heart will throb a circular inner courtyard inspired by the boreal forest. The symbolic representation of a huge canoe, moreover, will be inserted into the façade.
On site, at the very beginning of the project, the internationally renowned indigenous architect Douglas Cardinal had a vision of a canoe, he explained during a videoconference interview. “The canoe was a tool of communication and trade for travelers from Montreal and Quebec,” he said. I felt that First Nations are following the same path in this era of reconciliation, bringing their ideas and taking their rightful place. »
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Aboriginal architect Douglas Cardinal (left) and architect Jean-François Gagnon, senior partner at Lemay (right), surround Randy Bosum and Derrick Neeposh, who hold senior management positions with Creeco, owner of the land .
The Cree word “ode”, which means canoe, inspired the name of the project, which aims to be inclusive. “The canoe is unique to all Aboriginal cultures and we recognize by this symbol that the building is on Mohawk territory,” said Randy Bosum, who holds a senior management position with Eeyou Eenou Realty Properties (EERP), the subsidiary real estate from Creeco, the Cree Nation’s economic development fund.
Partnership
Creeco has established a partnership with the real estate company Cogir, whose Humaniti complex, in downtown Montreal, has just obtained WELL certification. “We knew we would do a great project together,” said Mr. Bosum, acknowledging the desire of Mathieu Duguay, President and CEO of Cogir, to work with the Crees.
The Lemay agency took charge of the architecture of the project, which had suffered an initial refusal from the City of Montreal, and revisited it based on long conversations with Douglas Cardinal.
“I’m still very close to him,” said Jean-François Gagnon, architect and senior partner, design, at Lemay. We took the time to make good decisions. The architectural reflection revolved around the integration of Cree culture and symbols for at least six months. It was special, because the Crees are very much in consensus. Decisions were often made after meetings. It was fascinating. I learned a lot. »
“I liked working with Jean-François because of his sensitivity and his connection to the land,” said Douglas Cardinal. We come from different cultures and we worked in unison, like brothers. I learned a lot from Jean-François, about the heritage of the people of Montreal. We have always been open with each other. Our elders taught us to speak from our hearts and to treat each other with respect. That’s what happened. Jean-François brilliantly interpreted what we discussed and saw to the smallest detail. »
ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY LEMAY
The Cree word “ode”, which means canoe, inspired the name of the project. The symbolic representation of a huge canoe will be inserted into the facade.
Several symbols and elements of Cree culture, such as the canoe, the boreal forest, the influence and respect of women, trees, natural resources, the making of things and their durability, have been subtly integrated, specified Mr Gagnon.
“We took the project at the beginning as if it were the trunk of a white birch, which is the tree with which the Crees make canoes, he says. The outer shell is white, because it represents the bark, which protects from the city and protects the inner courtyard. Then the bark is removed to reveal the sapwood, the soft part of the wood, whose sensitivity and warmth come to define the inner courtyard. In the cutout of the canoe, once again, the inside of the wood, the blond wood, appears. »
LEED Silver
The Lemay agency, recognized for its environmental leadership, and the Cree Nation quickly agreed on the sustainability of the project.
“From the start, this was an anchor point, reveals Loïc Angot, partner, director of sustainable strategies at Lemay. We are aiming for LEED Silver certification. It is one of the sites on which we worked that are best connected, next to two metro stations, the Bonaventure station and a future REM station, on the other side of the highway. It is also a project that has many qualities from the point of view of energy efficiency. It will not be, for example, the 32and glass tower of Montreal. The glazed parts will be quite measured, which is in itself interesting for energy efficiency, comfort and privacy of people. The building will also be connected to Montreal’s urban air conditioning and heating network (CCUM). »
ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY LEMAY
Reflecting values dear to the Cree Nation, the interior courtyard will be circular and will be inspired by the boreal forest. At a specific time of the year, the reflection of the moon can be admired. This place promoting introspection will be open to the public.
The designers also gave a lot of thought to reducing heat islands. The gardens, which will be laid out on different levels, will correspond by their forms, by the integrated materials, by the luminosity and the views to values dear to the Cree Nation. The inner courtyard, for example, will be circular and inspired by the boreal forest. At a specific time of the year, the reflection of the moon can be admired. This place promoting introspection will be open to the public.
As the project was also designed at the start of the pandemic, particular attention was paid to digital connectivity, in order to facilitate teleworking, from everywhere, even on the terraces. The building will thus aim for WiredScore certification.