A building of exceptional heritage value, the Institut des Sourdes-Muettes is a good example of architecture that developed over several eras. Despite the construction of the body of the building in seven phases, over a period of 73 years, the incorporation of all of its constituent parts into an overall “H”-plan, the continuity of the volumes and the choice of materials produced a remarkably harmonious building. The buildings, for the most part, made of roughly carved Montreal greystone with dressed stone for the ornamentation.

Designed by Father Joseph Michaud des Clercs de Saint-Viateur, the building is an example of Second Empire architecture, with its mansard roof and corner pavilions, a popular style in Montreal in the 1870s. He grafted onto the centre of the building the avant-corps of the entrance, decorated with pilasters to give the composition a monumental scale. The dome adorning the roof is reminiscent of the domes on Marché Bonsecours and Hôtel-Dieu. The fenestration decreases in height from floor to floor, a common approach at the time. The building still boasts stunning wooden verandas, evocative of its convent origins.

A chapel sits at the centre of the building. It houses a work by painter Georges Delfosse that represents the miraculous translation of the image of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, the patron of the chapel. The interior of the Institut des Sourdes-Muettes, with its rich wood panelling, was relatively well conserved until the site was abandoned. The Berri Street entrance features a magnificent golden oak stairway with a ramp and balustrade in red oak.

En 2019, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, along with the Société québécoise des infrastructures, offered the City the opportunity to purchase the building. The City of Montréal stated its intention to develop reconversion scenarios for both the Institut des Sourdes-Muettes and the Hôpital des Sœurs de la Miséricorde before deciding whether to acquire these now largely vacant properties.

In June 2021, the City of Montréal presented its redevelopment vision for the Sourdes-Muettes site. The Government of Québec owns the complex. Plans call for it to be transferred to a private developer, who will carry out restoration, reconfiguration, and adaptive reuse work.

On Monday, June 16, 2025, Montréal and Québec announced that the developer Residia had won the call for proposals to redevelop the former Institut des Sourdes-Muettes, located on Saint-Denis Street. The selected project includes two towers—17 and 25 storeys—at the corner of Berri and Cherrier, and will be completed in multiple phases. The sale agreement includes provisions for social housing. The project may still be adjusted before receiving final approval.

This remarkable institutional complex, built of grey stone with its iconic dome and several outstanding interiors, was carelessly decommissioned by the Government of Québec, which has only recently come to realize the site’s potential. The government is now working with the City of Montréal to repurpose it in response to housing needs.

For several years, Héritage Montréal has submitted multiple letters, briefs, and resolutions concerning various surplus hospital and educational buildings in Montréal, notably including the Institut des Sourdes-Muettes. Héritage Montréal continues to closely monitor the file and advocate with public authorities to ensure the site is requalified and its heritage values respected.

Drawing on its experience with the Royal Victoria Hospital—which was also decommissioned in 2015—the Société québécoise des infrastructures was mandated to launch a call for proposals. The June 16, 2025 announcement of the selected project marks a significant milestone. At last, after years of good intentions or indifference, something concrete is taking shape! Héritage Montréal has duly noted statements from elected officials indicating that the project will undergo public consultation and review by the Heritage Council.

At a time when Montréal is experiencing an epidemic of façadism and aggressive densification, particularly downtown and in Griffintown, it is encouraging to see that the main structure of this heritage complex will be preserved—even if it ends up encased in new construction, particularly along Saint-Denis Street. This large-scale project represents a first opportunity to see the principles of intelligent densification, as promoted in the new Urban and Mobility Plan (PUM), put into action. This raises the bar for a successful project—both in terms of program and architecture—and for a process that must be both efficient and exemplary.