A Quebec Office Devoted to the Art (and Business) of Construction

Groupe MONTONI boasts a portfolio of over 700 completed projects. Across Quebec, the company has built wide range of industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential properties, accounting for nearly 300,000 square metres of space throughout the province, with nearly as much still in the pipeline. When it came time to design a new head office, the company sought to celebrate the process of construction (and development) itself — but within a sleek, comfortable, and coherent space. For local designers Sid Lee Architecture (SLA), it presented for a creative challenge.

Situated in Laval (a city just north of Montreal), the two-storey, 3,900-square-metre office is the latest addition to the long MONTONI history of construction. And while the light-filled space feels welcoming and resolved, SLA’s expressive use of raw concrete, aluminum and exposed structures hints at an industrial, unfinished aesthetic — a motif underlined by powder-coated orange accents.

“We drew inspiration from the codes of the construction industry in creating the new offices,” says Jean Pelland, Architect and Senior Partner at Sid Lee Architecture. “Guided by the builder’s innovative approach, every aspect of our design reflects our commitment to crafting offices that are unique, and to honouring our client’s legacy.”

Greeting visitors, a striking curved aluminum counter — custom designed by SLA — sets the tone for the spaces to come. In the upstairs kitchen (a showpiece of the space), for example, a sculptural lighting installation by Lambert & Fils evokes the choreography of scaffolding, anchoring — and gently illuminating — the sociable counter below.

Here, vivid orange stools nod to Montreal’s ever-present construction cones, with the eye-catching hue paired with more understated walnut islands and aluminum counters. Framing the kitchen, sleek, reflective dark blue cabinets create a soothing yet hygienic backdrop.

Alongside the kitchen, a sociable “agora” hosts larger gatherings and meals. The space is outfitted with understated furnishings in matte black and olive tones. And throughout the two-level MONTONI office, a soft yet industrial palette of material finishes is paired with ample greenery, amplifying a feeling of openness and breathability. Not bad for a construction site.