Public spaces

It no longer needs an introduction. The Place des Festivals is the largest outdoor space available for the festivals and major events that have been feeding the vibe of the Quartier des Spectacles since 2009. At once a public square and an open-air concert venue, it’s lined with four large columns featuring stage lighting, while its parterre welcomes festival-goers celebrating the diversity of music from Montreal and around the world.

The Esplanade Tranquille is always abuzz with activity! This 1,890 m² public square and its adjacent pavilion are bustling with activity in summer and winter alike. 

Known to all Montrealers for its strategic location near to the Berri-UQAM metro station, Place Émilie-Gamelin is an important downtown hub. Its grassy upward slope welcomes city dwellers wanting to chill out, and its flat southern surface is a multifaceted space as much for cultural events as for providing marginalized populations with various services.

Located to the east of the Maison Symphonique, the Parterre is a green space that, since 2010, has bordered De Maisonneuve Boulevard West and Clark, de Montigny and Saint-Urbain streets. To the west, the grassy surface is complemented by an urban design based on the principle of the tier. The Parterre can be a restful, soothing place for city-dwellers passing through, but it’s also a dynamic space, hosting concerts and shows during major Montreal festivals.

On the cusp between art and science, the Promenade des Artistes is located halfway between the UQAM Science Complex and Place des Arts. Like an urban art gallery, it features a series of showcase structures housing temporary works of art.

Located on the UQAM campus opposite the Athanase-David pavilion, Place Pasteur combines greenery and urban paving stones in a series of cut-outs, woven into the fabric of Saint-Denis Street. A popular hangout for a young and lively student population, this urban space sees its landscaping transformed each fall thanks to landscape design projects imagined by students from the École de design.

Located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, near the Monument-National and the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), Place de la Paix is a perfectly rectangular urban space, bordered by tall trees that naturally define its setting.

An urban link between the Musée d’art contemporain and Place des Arts, the Esplanade de la Place des Arts is an elevated public square, complete with a fountain in summer and a variety of spaces for hosting cultural activities.