Sid Lee Architecture - Cain Lamarre - Rethinking the Law Office at the Heart of Montreal’s Heritage - Canada

2025-12-15

In the Golden Square Mile in downtown Montreal, Cain Lamarre has recently chosen to move into a heritage building, reaffirming the firm’s desire to stay rooted at a human scale, and to offer its team a work environment aligned with its values. Designed with Sid Lee Architecture as a vibrant urban square, the space draws inspiration from the hospitality industry to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, far from the solemn mood of more traditional offices. Its layout supports the demands of legal practice while encouraging collaboration. A diversity of spaces, a balance between confidentiality and conviviality, authentic materials, and abundant natural light come together to create a fluid, intuitive experience. This approach, attentive to both professional needs and collective life, earned the project a Gold certification at the Grands Prix du design. From the outset, space planning was guided by considerations of future growth, flexibility of use, and knowledge sharing, strengthened by the active participation of a representative committee bringing together various professional profiles within the firm.

Reception and café: the first stop

From the moment one steps inside, the reception area and café corner create a calm contrast with the energy of the city. A suspended openwork felt module echoes the building’s original structure and integrates soft, indirect lighting, while the exposed concrete painted white recalls the site’s heritage character. Adjacent to the staircase’s double-height space, the café area opens onto a clear view of the city and quickly becomes a lively place for conversation. The lounge, organized around an island-like sofa, preserves both intimacy and fluid circulation. With its welcoming, refined feel, this arrival point reflects the spirit of the urban square: open to collective life and aligned with the values of integrity, honesty, and trust that define Cain Lamarre.

The monumental staircase: the nerve center

A true signature element, the monumental staircase structures circulation between the two floors. The warm, soft ecru hue of the metal adds a refined contemporary touch that complements the steps made of Quebec maple, while the double-height space channels natural light throughout. An expanded landing opens onto an interior garden, offering a moment of pause and exchange along the way. The perforated guardrail and suspended fluted-glass lighting bring movement and rhythm to the ascent, accompanying the day-to-day flow. As the project’s pivotal point, the staircase anchors the space and embodies the office’s collective dimension.

The cafeteria: an enveloping pause

Slightly set back from the main circulation, the cafeteria offers an immersive atmosphere marked by a dried-amaranth tone applied to the cabinets, ceilings, and light fixtures. The subtly textured porcelain backsplash echoes the building’s Art Deco influences and contributes to a polished environment. A large standing-height communal table centers the room, surrounded by flexible furnishings including high tables, bistro tables, and lounge seating. This composition adapts easily to everyday meals, as well as special moments. The cafeteria can open onto the agora at the foot of the staircase, encouraging connection at any time of day and effortlessly supporting collective events.

Edges of the square: active circulation

Around the periphery, enclosed offices and full-height meeting rooms create a transition toward quieter, more private zones. At the center, rounded-corner islands pick up the staircase’s ecru color. Beneath a lowered ceiling, they extend into custom architectural partitions that create a soft sense of continuity. The interplay of volumes and varying heights energizes perspectives, fosters movement, and shapes a bright, open atmosphere. Elongated decorative handles on the glazed doors bring a refined detail along the way, subtly echoing the building’s Art Deco heritage.

About Sid Lee Architecture

Sid Lee Architecture is an affiliate of Sid Lee creative agency. The firm was founded by architects and urban designers Jean Pelland and Martin Leblanc, business partners since 1999. Today, the pair leads a multidisciplinary team of 70 professionals from the fields of urban planning, architecture, and interior design.

Since 2015, Sid Lee Architecture has been a member of kyu, a collective of creative companies established by Hakuhodo DY Holdings.

Photo credit: Alex Lesage