The former Fire Station No. 14 has been vacant for several years, and both its materials and structure are deteriorating. For example, the side wall is in disrepair, and the building has been vandalized. It could be converted into a cultural space, such as a performance venue, an artists\u2019 caf\u00e9 or an exhibition space.<\/p>\n
Fire Station No. 14 was built in 1912\u20131913 to plans by Louis-Roch Montbriand. It closed in 1980. Three years later, following renovations, the Centre des arts contemporains du Qu\u00e9bec \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al moved into the building and remained there until 2015, when the CACQ relocated to Sorel-Tracy.<\/p>\n"}],"citizen_archive_date":"","text":"
\u201cFire Station No. 14, inaugurated in 1913, is one of twenty-two fire stations built in Montr\u00e9al between 1900 and 1918. Its historical value lies in the way it illustrates, alongside the fire stations erected since the last third of the 19th century, the City of Montr\u00e9al\u2019s efforts to combat fires. It also bears witness to the evolution of the former Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
The artistic value of the former Fire Station No. 14 stems in particular from the importance of its designer, architect Louis-Roch Montbriand (1860\u20131923). One of the Montr\u00e9al region\u2019s prominent architects during the first half of the 20th century, he also designed Fire Station No. 16 (1041 rue Rachel Est, 1891), the former Fire Station No. 20 (181 rue Saint-Antoine Ouest, now incorporated into the Palais des congr\u00e8s, 1908) and Fire Station No. 27 (5252 avenue Gatineau, 1908).<\/p>\n
Although modest, the building has artistic value, with several elements reflecting the Beaux-Arts style prevalent at the time of its construction. The fire station\u2019s main fa\u00e7ade is characterized by its symmetry and numerous ornamental details, including its superimposed horizontal divisions, the contrast between the upper storey\u2019s brick facing and the ground floor\u2019s grey stone facing with its two arched openings, and the stone brackets supporting the lintels above the small doors. The rear fa\u00e7ade\u2019s composition draws on functionalist architecture, characterized in particular by the absence of ornamentation.<\/p>\n
Fire Station No. 14\u2019s urban value is reflected in the way its scale, main fa\u00e7ade ornamentation and public function distinguish it favourably from the surrounding buildings. Its rear fa\u00e7ade also stands out from the neighbouring houses on avenue Coloniale through its setback and hose tower.<\/p>\n