Built in 1959–1960, the building was purchased in 1982 by Textiles Central American, whose sign is still visible today. In 2009, Canadian Pacific sold the land—including the then-abandoned building and the Champ des Possibles—to the City of Montreal. In 2012, the space was taken over by creators who founded Kabane 77, with the intention of transforming it into a venue for independent cinema. However, the City of Montreal did not support the project and instead planned to demolish the building, which no longer met safety standards. In 2018, the borough commissioned the organization Entremise to implement a transitional occupancy project, but a fire destroyed the building, leaving only the metal framework.

Following the fire, the borough aimed to hold a public consultation to reimagine the structure and integrate the entire site with Aires Communes and the Champ des Possibles. The goal was to test out temporary uses in order to gather public feedback and ultimately identify sustainable, long-term uses for the site—turning it into a year-round gathering space that meets the needs of local residents, organizations, and workers from nearby businesses.

Since only the building’s strucutre remained after the fire, the site has been used as an ice rink in the winter and an open-air performance space in the summer.