The refection of the Le Germain Montreal hotel required that the team showed innovative thinking because the use of a crane to add six more floors to the tower was out of the question.
With the approach of any project comes the consideration of all the aspects that will influence it. Because we know that they will undeniably have an influence on how we chose to develop it. Our project for the Le Germain Montreal hotel is no exception. Not only was it to be built during the winter, but its location right downtown Montreal, also brought its share of challenges.
Bold design and brilliant construction
The project first consisted in the renovation of all the interiors, from entrance and lobby to restaurant and bar areas and of course, the entirety of the guest rooms. Group Germain Hotels also wanted to add an extension to the existing building, already 18 floors high, by building 6 additional floors at the top. The extension allowed for an extra 136 rooms to be offered to the clientele. In the dense urban context, we knew from the outset that the city would not approve of the installation of a crane for the construction of these floors. It was therefore necessary to proceed otherwise.
This is why the choice of construction technique had to be ingenious and efficient. The challenge was entrusted to Upbrella, a Quebec company who had the perfect technology for the project. The solution? To build upon the building itself. First, the roof was installed on the building and then raised, floor by floor, as they were being built below. Technically speaking, a piston lifting system was installed, which could lift the 240,000 lbs roof to make way for the construction of the envelope.
See the timelapse video of the project
CISC nominee
We are all the more proud of this achievement since it is not only the first project in North America to be built using this technology at the height of 18 floors, but because it has also been on the very short list of finalists for the prestigious CISC (Canadian Institute of Steel Construction) Steel Construction Awards of Excellence in the Assembly/Assembly and Constructibility and/or Building/Renovation category(ies).
Congratulations to the entire project team!
Client : Group Germain Hotels
Architects : LemayMichaud
Subcontractor : Upbrella Construction
General Contractor : Constructions Pierre Blouin
Structural Engineers : EMS
Electromechanical Engineers : Genecor
