Quartier Concordia at Pointe-à-Callière Museum
The changing face of St. Catherine Street as commercial strip, entertainment venue and site of parades and demonstrations through Montreal’s downtown core is captured at an exhibition currently at Montreal’s Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archeology and History.
St. Catherine Street Makes the Headlines charts the street’s evolution on a variety of fronts, and Concordia’s role is highlighted. The university’s current plans for Quartier Concordia are credited with revitalizing the street around the Guy intersection. In addition, pieces from our public art collection have been lent to the museum for the duration of the exhibition.
The development of Quartier Concordia is mentioned in the exhibition’s displays as one of three ongoing projects breathing new life into the multi-faceted strip. “For the last few years we have been working with the City of Montreal on an extensive study of the patrimony of this critical downtown thoroughfare,” noted Clarence Epstein, Director of Special Projects and Cultural Affairs. “The positive role of Concordia in its recent revitalization is without question.”
Concordia University’s Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Builidng) sits on the block of St. Catherine Street between Guy and MacKay streets. The block was the site of the York Theatre from 1938 to 2001.
Among the building’s decorative elements preserved and restored by Concordia were a series of metal panels featuring stylized theatrical masks. These panels are part of the university’s public art collection and are usually on display outside of the Hexagram Black Box, in the EV Building. They are currently on loan to the Pointe-à-Callière Museum for the duration of the exhibition.
Related links:
• Concordia's Public Art
• St. Catherine Street Makes the Headlines