1922 – Canada Cement Building, Square Phillips, Montreal

Built in 1922, this 10-story building represents several firsts in Canadian architecture and society. It was the first office tower in Canada to be built entirely of reinforced concrete. It was also the first skyscraper in Montreal to have underground parking, at a time when there were not many automobiles on the road.

“The building will represent the best results obtainable from the use of concrete and reinforced concrete construction. It is to be ten storeys in height above the street level with an additional basement floor. There will he approximately 14,000 square feet of rent area on each floor. The facades on Phillip Square, Union Avenue and Phillips Place, will be of hand tooled granite and the south wall and courts will be faced with hydro-stone. The corridor and interior finish are to be simply treated, only the best materials being used, the construction of the building being fireproof throughout.

One advantage of the location is that it assures tor all time, unobstructed light on three sides, an advantage possessed by few office buildings. In addition there will be a court opening at the back, 26 feet wide and 25 feet deep. The plan permits of an exceptionally fine layout, as typical offices on the street sides are in no case to be more than 24 feet deep, while those on the court opening will be but 15 feet deep.”
Construction, September 1921

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