In February 1963, Canadian National Railways published an advertisement in the Montreal newspapers, inviting proposals for the development of “air rights”over the CNR tracks in midtown Montreal. The Concordia Estates Development Company responded with a major proposal for a gigantic “Canada Trade Centre” providing two million square feet of rentable space for convention and exhibition facilities, sales offices and a new Merchandise Mart.

With construction having started on Montreal’s subway system, plans for the Expo 67 World’s Fair firming up and a downtown construction boom in the offing, Montreal was positioned to enter a historic phase of urban transformation. Place Bonaventure was looking more and more like a winner.

The design and plans for Place Bonaventure were finally settled upon in 1965 and the complex was inaugurated in 1967. In its final form, gross area had increased by 30% to an astounding 3.1 million square feet, making the Canada Trade Centre complex larger than the Empire State Building - indeed the world’s largest single building!

Trade show bookings, as well as Merchandise Mart and office leasing, started off slowly but promisingly. By the early 1970s the word had really begun to get around: Place Bonaventure was “where it’s at.”

In 1973, major industries, including fashion businesses, home-furnishing representatives and toy manufacturers, had started putting down permanent roots in the Merchandise Mart. Offering rooms overlooking a landscaped roof garden and a four-season pool, the Hilton Bonaventure Hotel was also doing extremely well, with over 90% occupancy year-round. The integrated concept was well on its way to performing as envisioned ten years earlier.

Unfortunately, nobody could have foreseen the turmoil that began in 1976 in Quebec. Economic problems afflicted the city, leaving no corner untouched, including Place Bonaventure. After a decade-long downturn, things finally started moving ahead in Montreal. There was a crying need for large contiguous block space, something Place Bonaventure was uniquely positioned to supply. With steady growth towards a strong market and economy, Place Bonaventure was not afraid to try bold new approaches to meet the market’s needs.

In 1998, Place Bonaventure underwent a major transformation in order to regain the building’s former prestige and give the complexes an image equal to its importance in the heart of Montréal’s International District. As a result, more than 60 million dollars were devoted to renovating the office spaces and redoing the public areas and exhibition halls.

After being known for years as “the fortress”, Place Bonaventure now has windows on all sides that allow much more natural light in. In addition, the complex is accessible via the new pedestrian artery below University St.

The chart below provides numbers concerning the major restoration projects: