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InspirAction

InspirAction #10: Monastère du Bon-Pasteur

52-104 Sherbrooke Street East, Montréal

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One large complex, many components

Published on : October 03 2015

Last modified on : November 21 2020

Rehabilitation of a large institutional complex in stages to simplify both the funding structure and the work, and diversify the functional and social mix.

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“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” African proverb

11500

Floor area to be repurposed, in square meters

8

Projects in 1

80

Percentage of private funding

History and issues of the site

In 1979, the congregation of the Sœurs de Notre-Dame de Charité du Bon-Pasteur (Sisters of the Good Shepherd) left their imposing monastery in downtown Montreal, and it stood vacant. Built nearly 150 years earlier, in 1847, Bon-Pasteur was one of the rare extant examples of a 19th-century French-inspired convent complex. The elegant four-storey greystone main building, with its gable roof, housed a public chapel designed by Victor Bourgeau, one of the leading architects of the time.

Within these walls, for more than a century, the sisters welcomed hundreds of “poor” and “maladjusted” young women, teaching them trades and helping them reintegrate into society. In recognition of its social and architectural heritage, the Bon-Pasteur complex was designated a historic monument in 1979. Six years after the congregation’s departure, however, the building remained abandoned.

Context and intervention

The City of Montreal entrusted the repurposing of the complex to a young team ready to take up the challenge: the Société immobilière du patrimoine architectural de Montréal (SIMPA). Instead of approaching the reconstruction as a single large project, the team shrewdly conceived of several smaller real-estate projects with a single overarching vision.

This approach ensured the successful redevelopment of the various parts of the complex, a successful social mix, and a viable financing structure. Co-existing within this heritage complex are a cultural centre, a daycare centre, a seniors’ residence, a concert hall in the converted chapel, a housing co-op, offices, and spaces for community groups.

Heritage Montréal has supported the requalification project of the Bon-Pasteur Monastery and is an occupant of the premises since 2003.

Impact

The success of a repurposing project of the scale of the Bon-Pasteur project proved the viability of giving a second life to large heritage complexes, ensuring the preservation of their architectural integrity and allowing a wide variety of organizations to benefit from the space in an innovative manner.

Lessons

Although projects of such complexity pose major technical, financial, architectural and legal challenges, they guarantee the preservation of emblematic buildings, while assigning them active roles to play in the social and urban fabric and responding to present-day issues in our city and our neighbourhoods.

  • Municipality or borough

    Ville-Marie

  • Owner(s)

    Shared (public, private and collective)

  • Conception

    Victor Bourgeau, architect (1847); SIMPA (1984)

  • Manager(s)

    Various

  • Categorie(s)

    Cultural

    Institutional

    Residential

  • Construction year

    1847

  • Recognition status

    Classified heritage building (1979); Located in the protection area of the William-Notman House (1979); Located in the protection area of the Bon-Pasteur Monastery (1981); Building of exceptional heritage value; Located in an area of exceptional heritage value – Sherbrooke Street East (between Saint-Dominique and Saint-Denis)

Join the discussion

How do you see this Montreal site? What legacy has it left us? What future can we create for it? Where to start to get there? Who wants to participate in the project?

You have questions? Want to do more, but lack the information? Consult our toolkit to learn more about the heritage of the Montreal metropolitan area, the preservation mechanisms in place and possible actions.