NEW HOMES & CONDOS SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016 GAZETTE G7

Architect Olivier Legault, principal associate of BeÏque Legault Thuot (BLTA) in Montreal. PHOTO BY GILLES DELISLE

Cité du Commerce Électronique, Montreal’s E-Commerce Place, on René-Lévesque Blvd. between Mountain and Lucien L’Allier Sts. (photo at left), with part of Le Crystal de la Montagne visible at far right in the frame. An artist’s rendering of the IcÔne condominium tower (above) on René-Lévesque Blvd. and Mountain St. also shows Hotel Le Crystal partly visible (left of the frame). BeÏque Legault Thuot (BLTA) was instrumental in the creation of all three buildings. BOTH IMAGES COURTESY OF BLTA

Real estate A Q&A WITH ARCHITECT PROFILE OLIVIER LEGAULT

LORRI BENEDIK

Olivier Legault, architect and prin- cipal associate of Beïque Legault Montreal is expe- Thuot (BLTA), has Montreal roots riencing a moment that run deep. His father’s family has been here for 10 generations. (of evolution) in Olivier’s dad, architect Guy R. Le- the form of cen- gault, had a 30-year career with the city of Montreal from 1956 to tral densification. 1987, culminating with his position Urban sprawl is as chief of urban planning. Olivier is the third of five chil- slowing in favour of dren. His siblings include an engi- building vertically, neer, a doctor, an accountant and an educator of special-needs chil- in the downtown dren who Olivier describes as “the core. heart of the family.” He attended Collège Saint-Stanislas and stud- ied architecture at l’Université de Montréal. Even today, business people tend We met at the BLTA office on St- to perceive me as an artist, and art- Laurent Blvd. ists see me as a businessman. It is the fine line between the two that Did you always want to be an defines me. architect? Not really. I just loved to draw. As a What happened after univer- teenager I preferred to stay home sity? and create pencil drawings of Mick I accepted a job with Lemay (Archi- Jagger or Albert Einstein than go tects). Early on, I had the opportu- out with friends. I chose architec- nity to travel to Vancouver for an ture because it combines reality international competition. While and dreams; this suits me well. there I visited the office of Arthur Erickson, considered to be the greatest Canadian architect. This experience had a great impact on me. The highlight of my years at Lemay was signing the contract for Le 1000 de la Gauchetière, on which I collaborated with architect Dimitri Dimakopoulos.

Where did you go from there? An artist’s rendering shows the Condos at René-Lévesque Blvd. I joined Jacques Beïque’s firm in and Mountain St., a project on which architect Olivier Legault worked for 1996. Since then, I have worked more than 20 years. Timing is everything and the timing just never seemed almost exclusively on projects in right — until now. Phase 1 of the project was finally completed late last the Ville-Marie borough. Because year. ARTIST’S RENDERING COURTESY OF BLTA of circumstances a few of them, in very close proximity to each other, ods of evolution, which I call “mo- have been completed recently. ments in time.” Currently, Montre- al is experiencing such a moment ... Business people What do you mean by “circum- in the form of central densification. stances?” Urban sprawl is slowing in favour tend to perceive When creating a 40-storey struc- of building vertically, in the down- me as an artist, ture, which can cost $100 million town core. to build, there are multiple condi- One of the main reasons is global and artists see me tions which must coincide favour- warming. People of all ages want to as a businessman. ably. These include: current events, live “greener” existences. Someone the economy, interest rates, land who lives in a house in the suburbs It is the fine line costs, zoning bylaws and environ- and commutes, uses 10 times more between the two mental issues. The absence of any fossil fuel than one who lives in a crucial component can cause a de- downtown condo and walks every- that defines me. lay. For example, Roccabella Con- where. OLIVIER LEGAULT dos, at René-Lévesque Blvd. and Mountain St., is a project I have How can one compare a house been working on for more than to a condo? two decades. Phase 1 was finally Making the comparison requires sen because it permits us to walk completed late last year. My in- a shift in perspective. Condo com- to and from work sites. When I volvement with Roccabella began plexes are conceived to include travel by plane, I compensate via in 1994 with Trizec Corp. Through large common areas and amenities, a program called Carbone Boréal, the years, the project started and such as a gym, pool, spa or rooftop an initiative of l’Université du Qué- stopped multiple times. Until now, terrace, intended to be perceived bec à Chicoutimi, which allows me the timing was not perfect. as extensions of the living unit. to plant trees to offset the green- Within one city block, all around Each project has its own flavour house gas emissions produced by the , we have a few other and offers something different. the aircraft. developments; Cité du Commerce Buyers can choose based on their Électronique, Icône Condos, Le preferences. At this time, 80 to 90 And when you are not working? Crystal de la Montagne — which per cent of new downtown condos I am busy being totally inspired by was Jacques Beïque’s last project are sold — many of which have not my life partner, Anik Matern, who before retiring — and, most re- even been built yet. is a working actress and founder cently, l’Avenue Condos, a Brocco- of the Dynamic Theatre Factory. lini venture designed by Mansoor What puts the spring in your Since 1998, she has helped more Kazerouni and Groupe IBI/Page + step? than 1,000 children and young Steele; BLTA did the plans and we I am motivated by my own envi- adults manage life challenges are overseeing construction. ronmental consciousness and feel through acting. proud to be part of the equation I might build structures that L’Avenue Condos, a 50-storey mixed-use structure being built across from Why are there so many condos which will help so many Montreal- decorate the urban landscape, but the Bell Centre, on l’Avenue des Canadiens de Montréal. ARTIST’S REN- going up downtown? ers reduce their carbon footprint. Anik is building up Montreal’s fu- DERING COURTESY OF GROUPE IBI/PAGE + STEELE In a city’s history there are peri- The location of our office was cho- ture generations — from the inside.