Canadian Centre for Architecture
(Centre Canadien d'Architecture)
Anyone with an interest in architecture and design will want to add the CCA in Montreal to their must see list
The Canadian Centre for Architecture is an international research centre and museum, founded in 1979 by Phyllis Lambert. She was convinced that architecture should be a public concern and aimed to raise public awareness of the role architecture plays in society as well as to promote research and stimulate innovation in this field.
The Centre is home to one of the world's biggest research collections in the field of architecture. There are various publications, conceptual studies, drawings and plans, pictures and models and other artefacts. The works cover everything from the Renaissance to the present day.
The building which houses the Canadian Centre for architecture was designed by Peter Rose in collaboration with consulting architect, Phyllis Rose, and associate architect, Erol Argun. It was integrated with the Shaughnessy House designed by William T. Thomas - a historic mansion that came close to being demolished for road development, before being purchased and restored. The entire complex covers 130,000 square feet, including the 20,000 square foot Shaughnessy House.
The gardens are a work of restoration of an area which was deeply scarred by highway engineering in the 20th century. They were designed by Melvin Charney during the Quebec governments bid to combine art and architecture and laid out in a series of narratives which speak of the history of architecture and the city.
The Centre offers a range of education programs and hosts various architecture related events and Exhibitions throught the year. Full details of these events can be found on their official website linked below. They feature items such as the H-Block building of the Maze Prison in Northern Island and Casablanca Chandigarh, an exhibition suggestive of histiography of two major urban experiments which took place in the Global South. Each exhibit is curated by a different group of architects.
The centre is wheelchair friendly and there is limited parking available. There are also various tours on offer for those who wish to be guided through the different departments and exhibits.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes - Please see the website for the full admission costs schedule. Students and children are permitted free entrance. Free admission on Thursdays after 5:30pm.
Centre Canadien d'Architecture Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: 1920 Rue Baile, Montréal, QC H3H 2S6, Canada
Phone: (514) 939-7026
Official Website: Centre Canadien d'Architecture
Centre Canadien d'Architecture Reviews
Rated out of 5
We stopped by while visiting the city and on a snowy day. It was nice to be inside and we enjoyed exploring their current exhibits on photography, architecture, and the legal History of city planning and buildings. A very enjoyable experience, we explored for about 1 hour even though the museum is rather small.
Sarah M - a month ago
We went there on the Sunday February 4th 2024 in a group and had quite some interesting exposition! We were hoping to see the other part of the museum (the archive and the tea section upstairs) but it was closed unfortunately 😔
Beside that, it was a very big place to be and was perfect for a group of 8 people to explore around ! ❣️❣️❣️
Annyra Ly - 2 months ago
The museum isnt quite filled with things to see and can be visited in an hour or so. Kn the bright side, it is free for students and if you appreciate photography or architecture you will find something to entertain you.
Romain Fagouet - a week ago
The Canadian Centre for Architecture is a small and interesting place showcasing a few interesting exhibits involving architecture and photography. If you’re looking for something different and don’t have much time you may want to consider swinging by. If nothing else, you can learn about things not normally found in your everyday museum.
Tim Lam - 5 months ago
Visited on the first Sunday of the month so it was free, it’s also free for students. I liked the exhibition they had, it was called « The Lives of Documents—Photography as Project ». They also have a library. Definitely recommend
Linda Abidi - 8 months ago
Directions
| Metro Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 - Green | Guy-Concordia | 7 minutes |
| Line 2 - Orange | Station Georges-Vanier | 5 minutes |
How to get to Centre Canadien d'Architecture by Metro
By Metro: Take Metro Line 1 to Guy-Concordia and exit onto Rue Saint-Mathieu. Walk southeast to Baile Street and go right following it to the entrance or take Metro Line 2 to Georges-Vanier; exit and cross the street to the expressway underpass and follow the sidewalk through the underpass to the other side. When you come out of the underpass the CCA is immediately to your right.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Centre Canadien d'Architecture:
Photo Gallery
-
The Historic Shaughnessy House forms part of the CCA cc licensed photo by JasonParis -
Photo Credit: Lea-Kim - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Lea-Kim - cc license via Flickr
