Lemay's accessible addition transforms Montreal's Saint Joseph's Oratory
In 2025, the Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal reopened following a decade of renovations led by Lemay. This extensive project introduced a Welcome Pavilion and a bell tower, along with a fully accessible indoor route that eliminates 283 outdoor steps. Guests now enter through a reception area, utilizing escalators and elevators to reach the main Basilica and upper plazas. The new structure features four levels with gabion walls made from Mount Royal granite. Landscaping by Version Paysage has created additional green spaces and reduced the parking area. The pavilion houses a cafeteria, gift shop, and a restored carillon with 62 bells in a 25-meter-high campanile. The project achieved LEED Silver certification and received a Prix d'Excellence in 2026.
Key facts
- Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal reopened after a ten-year renovation.
- Lemay designed a new Welcome Pavilion and bell tower with a fully accessible indoor path.
- The accessible route replaces 283 exterior steps or a shuttle service.
- Gabion walls use gray granite stones excavated from Mount Royal.
- Landscaping by Version Paysage includes green roofs and 50% revegetation.
- The 62-bell carillon, originally for the Eiffel Tower, was restored and housed in a new campanile.
- The project is LEED Silver-certified and won a Prix d'Excellence in 2026.
- The Oratory is Canada's largest church, completed in 1966.
Entities
Artists
- Ricardo Serrano
- Bridget Goldberg
Institutions
- Lemay
- Version Paysage
- Ordre des architectes du Québec
- Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal
Locations
- Montreal
- Canada
- Mount Royal
- Westmount Summit
- Quebec
- France