The original project, conceived during the Expo 67-era economic boom, called for three identical towers arrayed in a triangle. It was scaled back to two towers flanking each side of the central core. Ultimately a single tower was built, due to financial constraints;[4] the Hôtel Delta Centre-Ville[5] was later built on the site of what was to be the second identical tower thus forming Place Victoria. Following the improvement and restoration of Square Victoria to its original configuration in 2002, Place Victoria is now a centrepiece of the new Quartier International downtown area.
Tour de la bourse and metro station Square Victoria
The tower itself is considered by many to be a masterpiece of the International style of skyscraper design. Its façade, fully renovated in 1995, features a bronze-tinted anodized aluminiumcurtain wall, forming a strong contrast with the slightly slanted pre-cast concrete columns at the four corners, giving the whole a subtly convex aspect. It is divided into three roughly equal blocks by mechanical floors whose corners are recessed in an octagonal shape, creating small open-air interstices behind the columns at these levels. One couple of peregrine falcons has been nesting inside the 32nd floor recess since 1984.
The building's anchor tenant is still the Montreal Exchange on floors 3 and 4. The national and international law firm Fasken Martineau occupies six floors as well as space for services on the ground floor. The building is managed by Magil Laurentian Realty Corporation. In August 2004 Jolina Capital, owned by Lino Saputo who is also head of foodmaker Saputo Foods, acquired a majority stake in the building. Property management is still handled by Magil Laurentian, who retains a minority stake. In 2018, the owner of the building is Groupe Mach.[6]
Events
On February 13, 1969, the Front de libération du Québec set off a bomb at the Stock Exchange, injuring twenty-seven people. No one was killed.
On April 7, 2005, around 150 students occupied the ground floor of the building to block access to the elevators, as part of a strategy of economic disruption during the 2005 Quebec student strike. They were scattered by riot police two hours later; one arrest was made.
In March 2010, the Tour de la Bourse was used by artist Aude Moreau for her work Sortir, in which the room lights in the upper levels of the tower were used to spell out the word "Sortir" across its façades.[7]
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Montreal|Offices|Fasken Martineau
