ENCYCLOPEDIAOFFRENCHCULTURAL

HERITAGEINNORTHAMERICA

TheMontrealOlympicStadiumComplex
http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article-558/The_Montreal_Olympic_Stadium_Complex.html

parBassil,SorayaandDion,Amlie

MontrealOlympicStadium,2006
UniqueinallofNorthAmerica,theboldarchitecturalstyleoftheMontreal
OlympicStadiummakesthebuildingsarchitectureoneoftheemblemsoftheCity
ofMontreal.DesignedbytheFrencharchitectRogerTaillibert,inordertohostthe
1976SummerOlympicGames,todaythebuildinghasnotonlybecomeapartofthe
architecturalheritageofmetropolitanMontreal,butalsooftheProvinceofQuebec
andofCanada.Eventhoughthegeneralpopulacehasaspecialaffectionforthis
pieceoforganicandsculpturalarchitecturewhichtestifiestotheinternational
significanceofaneventthatmarkedtherisingofmodernismintheProvinceof
Quebecmanyfacetsofthestoryhowitwasbuiltanditsshort,butvariedhistory
remainunknown.

Articledisponibleenfranais:StadeolympiquedeMontraletinstallations
connexes

TheOlympicStadium,aJewelofModernArchitecture

ViewoftheStadiumandthe
Esplanadefromtheeast(JeanPaul
RiopellessculpturalinstallationLa
Joute(belowright))
Asanarchitecturalproject,theOlympicStadiumhasbeensubjecttosomeofthemost
intensemediacoverageintheProvinceofQuebecsrecenthistory.Forquitesometime,
itspublicimagewastarnishedbythevariousdifficultiesencounteredasitwasbeing
builttheconsiderabletimeittooktocompleteaswellasthesubstantialoverbudget
spendingthattheprojectincurred.Nevertheless,themediahype,thecomplexs
distinctiveshapeanditsuniquepositionintheeasternendofthemetropolisall
contributedtomakingthesiteanessentialfeatureoftheMontreallandscape.The
OlympicStadiumcanbeseenfromaboutanywhereinthecityandisoftenusedasa
visuallandmark,evenbypilotsflyingoverMontreal.Thispredominantpieceof
Montrealsurbanheritagestandsoutlikenootherbuildinginthearea.
TheOlympicComplexsitsonasitelocatedintheeastendofthecityona60hectare
[148.3acre]lotparalleltorueSherbrooke.ItiscloselylinkedtoParcMaisonneuveand
theBotanicalGarden,whicharelocatedjustacrossthemajorurbanthoroughfare.Built
tohostthe1976OlympicGames,theOlympicStadiumstandsoutagainstthecitys
skyline,duetoits175metre[574.1foot]leaningtower(hereafterreferredtoasthe
mast(NOTE1)).Interestingly,itisthemastthatmakesthecomplexoneoftheworlds
mostsubstantialexamplesofObliqueFunctioninarchitecture(NOTE2).Thestructure
isalsothesixthhighestbuildinginMontreal.Thefirst92metres[302feet]ofthemast
areofconcrete,whereastheuppersection(completedin1986)isofprefabricatedsteel
caissonconstructionmanufacturedbyMarineIndustries,inRimouski,Quebec(NOTE
3).
InspiteofthehighbuildingcostoftheOlympicComplexafactthatmanyQuebecois
haventyetforgotten(tothetuneof1.2billionCanadiandollars)(NOTE4)the
stadiumandthesurroundingfacilitiesareundeniablyamongthemostimportantheritage
assetsofnotonlytheCityofMontreal,butoftheProvinceofQuebecaswell(muchlike
somanyothernationalmonumentsaroundtheworld,suchasParisEiffelTower,which
wereatfirstmetwithpublicdisapprovalandincomprehensionbeforebecomingoneof
Francesnationalemblems).
TheinternationalrecognitionthattheStadiumhasreceived,aswellasitsstrikingand
enduringpresenceinthecityhasgonealongwaytoraisinganawarenessofthe
exceptionalvalueofthesiteamongthepeopleofQuebec.TheStadiumwasdesignedas
asignaturepieceofuniquevisualartwork,allthewhileremainingremarkablyfunctional.
ItseleganceandimpressivescalemakeitoneoftheProvinceofQuebecsforemost
examplesofmodernarchitecture.

AGrandioseProject

MontrealMayorJeanDrapeaupresentsthe
MontrealParisMonumentproject,December
1964.
In1976,Montrealwasaskedtohostthe21steditionoftheSummerOlympicGames.
FollowingtheexampleofMunichs1972editionoftheGames,MontrealMayorJean
Drapeauandhiscabinetdecidedtoassemblemultipleathleticdisciplinesononesingle
site,therebycreatingacohesivearchitecturalcomplexandreducingthenecessityof
havingtomovetheparticipantsfromeventtoevent.
Onthesitethatwaschosen,therewasalreadytheCentrePierreCharbonneauandthe
MauriceRichardArena.Bothofareevidenceofthecityadministrationspreviousefforts
torenewthisparticularareaoftownbyinstallingathleticfacilities.Themodern
architectureofthetwobuildingsdesignedandbuiltduringthe1950swouldmakeit
possibletointegratethemharmoniouslyintotheneworganicstylemasterplandevised
bytheCityofMontrealsPublicWorksDepartment(whichweretobereviewedand
revisedbythearchitectTaillibert)(NOTE5).
Aresearchdelegation,leadbyCharlesA.Boileau,thendirectoroftheCityofMontreals
DepartmentofPublicWorks,hadalookatseveralexistingsportsfacilities,bothinthe
UnitedStatesandinEurope.ItwastheParcdesPrincesdeParis,astadiumconstructed
usingprestressedconcretedesignedbytheFrencharchitectRogerTaillibert,that
particularlyimpressedthecommittee.TheCityofMontrealsexecutivecommitteewas
sufficientlyimpressedbyTaillibertsexpertiseinconstructingathleticfacilities,building
withprestressedconcreteanddesigningmovablefabricstructuresystemsthatitdecided
toconfertheFrencharchitectwiththeprojectofdesigningtheOlympicComplex.
StronglybackedbyMayorJeanDrapeau,whowasnotonlyanavidFrancophile,butwho
hadalsoalreadycalledontheexpertiseofFrencharchitectsforthebuildingofthe
MontrealSubway,theresolutionwaspassedonApril24,1973.
Thedecisionresultedinarousingtheireofnotonlymanyarchitectsandengineersinthe
ProvinceofQuebec(whofeltthattheyhadbeenrefusedtheopportunityofdesigningthe
grandscaleproject),butalsomanycontractorsandlabourerswhowouldhavetolearnto
workwithprestressedconcrete,arecentlydevelopedbuildingmethodwhichwaslargely
unfamiliartothem(NOTE6).

InitiallayoutplanfortheOlympicfacilitiesdating
from1956,Clarke&Rapuano,landscape
architects
Moreover,theschematicdesignadoptedbyTailliberthadtomeetseveralrequirementsof
theconstructiveprogram.Firstofall,theprogramrequiredthatthecomplexincludea
multipurposestadiuminwhicheventsforseveralathleticdisciplinescouldbeheld.Of
necessityitwouldalsoincluderegulationOlympicpoolsforaquaticsports,aswellasa
vlodrome[indoorbicycleracingtrack].Particularattentionwasgiventothesafetyofthe
siteforitwasimportanttoensurethatcrowdscouldmovefreelythroughthesiteand,if
necessary,beevacuatedrapidly.Inadditiontotheserequirements,theInternational
OlympicCommitteesregulationsstipulatedthatthecompetitiveeventshadtotakeplace
inanopenairenvironmentor,inotherwords,anopenairstadium.Furthermore,inthe
initialplansestablishedbytheCityofMontreal(whowasthenoverseeingthe
constructionasprojectowner(NOTE7)),stipulatedthattheathleticfacilitiesbuiltfor
thisprestigiousalthoughephemeraleventhadtolaterbeabletobeusedthroughoutthe
yearforbaseball(thestadiuminparticular(NOTE8)),aswellasforotherathleticand
culturalevents.Atthispoint,Montrealsclimatehadtobetakenintoconsideration,and
thus,thenecessityofaroofovertheStadiumaslongasitwasmovable.
Everinterestedinkeepingthefacilitiesincloseproximitytoeachother,Taillibertsplans
proposedthreemaincomponentsthatwouldhousemostofthecompetitions.Whileboth
distinctandintegratedasarchitecturalcomponents,thesethreepartsofTailibertsdesign
includedtheStadium,theSwimCentreandtheVelodrome.Attheunveilingofthe
architecturalmodelin1972,itwasalreadyevidentthatTailibertproposedbuilding
structuresthatinvolvedexceptionallyvisuallypoeticandorganicarchitecturalshapes
thatwouldbeconstructedusingunconventionalbuildingmethods.Theellipticalshaped
stadiumwas490metres[1607.6feet]longby180metres[590.6feet]wide.Mayor
Drapeauaffirmedthatthesedimensions,insuchaconfiguration,wouldaffordall
spectatorsoptimalvisibilityinasportsfacilityintendedtohouseavarietyofathletic
events.Forthisreason,thestructureincludesamultilevelringofstandswithaseating
capacityof56,000,notincludingthesome20,000overflowseatsaddedtemporarilyto
accommodatetheOlympicGames.Thesestandsareseton34selfstabilisingcantilever
consoles,whichsupportthetechnicalring,aswellas20%ofthetotalweightofthe
movablerooftheremaining80%beingsupportedbythemast(thetower).

ModeloftheOlympicfacilities,July1974
Inadditiontothemainstructureof34overhangingcantileveredconsoles,therewasalso
themastwithitstriangularbase,whosevaultedinteriorareashousedtheSwimCentre
withitsregulationOlympicpoolsbuiltforaquaticcompetitions.DuringtheOlympic
Games,themastwasalsosupposedtohousethepalestraandholdupthemovableroof,
butduetoalackoftime,itwasdecidedthatthispartoftheplanwouldnotbecompleted
beforetheopeningoftheGames.Designedrisetoaheightof175metres[574.2feet]and
toleanatandangleof45degrees,itwouldbecomethehighestfreestandingleaning
structureintheworld(NOTE9).
TheVelodromeisofoneofthemostsingleinnovativearchitecturalstructuresbuiltatthe
time.Thevaultedshellofitsselfsupportingroofflaresoutfromasinglebearingpoint,
dividingintothreelobesthatrestonthreeadditionalbearingpoints.Thethreelobesof
theroofarejoinedtogetherbytwotriangularshapedsections.Theroofhasamaximum
horizontaldimensionof172metres[564.3feet]andreachesamaximumheightof32
metres[105feet].Structurally,itconsistsofhundredsofprefabricatedvoussoirs(wedge
shapedarchedpanels)(NOTE10).Thebuildingwasintendedtohaveaseatingcapacity
ofanywherebetween7,000and12,000.Later,in1978,thefeatofarchitecturaland
technicalengineeringinvolvedinbuildingtheVelodromewouldbeofficiallyrecognised
inLondonbyaplebiscitevoteofengineersinattendanceattheInternationalCongressof
PrecastConcreteIndustry,suchwastheiradmirationfortheaccomplishment.

CharteringaCoursethroughTroubledWaterstheBuildingofan
AthleticCentre

SettingthestandsoftheOlympicStadiumin
place(January6th,1976)
TheconstructionoftheOlympicfacilities,whichbeganonApril28,1973,wouldcome
tohaveanegativeimpactontheentireproject.Thebuildingprojectwouldtakeplaceat
timewhenallthemajorbuildingsitesintheProvinceofQuebecwereundergoing
politization.Thispoliticalcontextwouldbejoinedbyescalatingsyndicaterivalry
betweenthetwomainlabourunions,theFdrationdesTravailleursduQubec(FTQ)
[QuebecFederationofLabour]andtheConfrrationdesSyndicatsNationaux(CSN)
[ConfederationofNationalTradeUnions],whichwouldthenleadtotwoconsecutive
strikesthatwouldlastfromNovemberof1974intoJanuaryof1975,andthenagainlater
fromMayof1975toOctoberof1975.Thesestrikeswouldresultinnumerousproject
setbacksanddelays,tothepointthat,bytheendof1975,itbecamedifficulttodetermine
whetherthesitewouldbereadyintimefortheGames.Thesesetbacksbroughtaboutby
clashesinlabourrelationswerejoinedbyyetanotherfactor:therisinginflationofthe
1970sthatincreasedthecostofcertainbuildingmaterials,suchasthesteelusedto
reinforcethevariousconcretestructuresoftheproject.Theconstructionschedulewas
alreadytight,tothepointofunderminingtheviabilityofMontrealscandidacyasan
Olympiccity(NOTE11),butthesefinaldevelopmentsmadetheprospectofhostingthe
Gamesalmostunfeasible.Facedwiththisturnofevents,theInternationalOlympic
CommitteeevenbegantoplanonmovingtheGamestoMexico.

However,thankfullytheRgiedesInstallationsOlympiques(RIO)[OlympicInstallations
Board,foundedonNovember20,1975]intervened,reorganisingthebuildingproject,
therebystabilisingthevolatileworkingclimatethatprevailedontheconstructionsite,as
wellasincreasingproductivityratesfortheprecastconcretesectionsattheShockbeton
manufacturingplant(NOTE12).Andso,intheend,thefacilitieswereadequatelyready
tohosttheOlympicGames,althoughthesitewasnotentirelycompletedatthattime.The
mastonlyroseto59metres[194feet]ofititsplannedtotalof175[574.2],thestands
weretemporaryandthelandscapingwasonlypartiallycompleted.

SandraHendersonandStphanePrfontaine
lightingtheOlympicCauldron,Montreal,July17,
1976
Andso,inspiteofalltheprecedingobstacles,theopeningceremonyofthe21stmodern
OlympicGamestookplaceasplannedonJuly15,1976,withaprocessionofathletes
fromthevariousdelegationsrepresenting94countriesinattendance,astheyfiledbefore
acrowdof76,433spectators.Twoweeksofcompetitionsfollowed,markedbythe
exploitsoftheyoungRomaniangymnast,NadiaComaneciandthenoticeableabsenceof
anyAfricanpresenceintheGamesbothremarkablemomentsinthehistoryofthe
MontrealOlympicfacilities.Inspiteofallthesceptics,thegeneralpopulaceisimpressed
bytheexpressiveeloquenceoftheStadiumcomplexsarchitecture.
Thismemorableevent(inwhichCanadawon5silver,6bronze,butnogoldmedalsa
firstforahostingcountry)hasleftnoticeablemarksonthesiteaswellasonthe
collectivememoryofthecommunity.InfacttheeventwassomemorableforQuebecois,
thatin1986,Montrealcelebratedthe10thanniversaryofthe1976Gamesinpompand
ceremony.Fortheoccasion,aplaquecommemoratingthemedallistsathletic
performanceswassetupinaplaceofhonour.Althoughtheprestige,honoursand
excellenceoftheGameswentalongwaytorestorepublicopinionoftheOlympic
facilities,thesagaoftheMontrealStadiumwasfarfromover.

InternationalAcclaim

PanoramicviewoftheMontrealOlympicStadium

takenfromMontRoyal,1987
Inspiteofthefinancialandpoliticalunpleasantnessontheconstructionsiteandthedebt
amassedwhileconstructingofthemaincomponentsoftheOlympicfacilities(the
Stadium,Velodrome,SwimCentreandtheOlympicVillage)adebtwhose
reimbursementwouldbedrawnoutoverthreedecades(NOTE13)positiveeffects
fromhostingthe1976OlympicGameswouldneverthelessbeimmediatelyfeltinseveral
sectors.Afewexamplesofsucheffectswouldinclude,amongothers,theathletic
facilitieshousedintheOlympicStadiumComplexthatweremadeavailabletothe
generalpopulationoftheCityofMontrealaftertheGames,theincreasedtouristic
affluencegeneratedbyMontrealsnewlyacquiredstatusasaninternationalcity,aswell
asthefoundingofalargenumberofathleticassociations.Interestinglyitisnotonly
theseassociationsthatcantracetheirhistoricoriginsbacktothe1976Games,butalso
thepracticeoforganisedamateursportsintheProvinceofQuebec.
Itwasntuntil1984(NOTE14)thattheprojecttofinishbuildingthemastbegan,
therebymakingitpossibletofinallycompletetheStadiuminaccordancewithTailliberts
originalplans(NOTE15).Regardless,theOlympicfacilitieswerenotanyless
functionalin1976,foralltheeventsheldtherewereverypopular(NOTE16).The
facilitieshostedavarietyofeventsthatwerewidelyappreciatedbythegeneralpublic.
ProbablythemostnotablesucheventwaswhenMontrealsprofessionalbaseballteam,
theExpos,tookupresidenceintheOlypmicStadiumonApril15,1977.Formanyyears,
theExposwouldstirthefansfervourandrockthecrowds,untilaseriesofdisappointing
performancescombinedwithseriousfinancialproblemswouldgraduallycauseadecline
inpublicinterestforitsveryownbaseballteam.Thiscontinuedforsomeyears,untilit
becamenecessarytoselloutandmovetheteamtoWashingtonin2004.

Madonna(GirlieShowTour)onstageatthe
OlympicStadium,October23rd,1993
Overtheyears,manymajorathleticaswellasculturaleventscontributedtothe
widespreadfameoftheMontrealOlympicfacilities.TheStadiumwasoftenthevenueof
choiceforholdinglargescalepublicdemonstrations,particularlybecauseitwaseasily
accessibleandmadeitpossibletosafelyhostvastcrowds(NOTE17).Amongthemany
memorableeventsisPopeJeanPaulIIsvisitonSeptember11,1984.Onthatoccasion,
hisholinessaddressedcrowdsofmorethan60,000youthaginganywherefrom16to25
yearsoldandClineDionsangUneColombe,aperformancethatwentdowninhistory
asaremarkablemomentinhersingingcareer.Thesameyear,DianeDufresnesshow
MagieRose[PinkMagic]wasmetwithresoundingsuccess.Dufresneistheonlyartist
fromtheProvinceofQuebectoeverhavepresentedtheirsoloshowintheOlympic
Stadium.ManyinternationalpopstarshavealsowalkedthestageoftheOlympic
Stadium,includingAC/DC,Genesis,Metallica,GunsNRoses,PinkFloyd,Madonna,
MichaelJacksonandmanyothers.TheStadiumwaseventhevenueforPuccinisopera
Turandot,aswellasfortheshootingofseveralscenesforvariousfilms.Othermajor
athleticeventshavebeenheldthere,suchasthe1977,1979,1981,1985,2001and2008
editionsoftheCanadianfootballGreyCup,aswellasvariousrunawaysoccermatchand
aworldfirst,the2006Outgames.TheStadiumhasalsohostedmanymajortradeshows
andexhibitions(NOTE18).

APieceofQuebecHeritageStillunderConstruction

TheObservatoryLocatedintheMastofthe
OlympicStadium
TheOlympicComplexrequiresconstantmaintenance,butsomeofthefacilitiesaddedon
overtheyearshaveimprovedthesite.Andso,aglassedincablecarontheoutersurface
ofthetower,whichwhisksvisitorstotheupperlevelsofthemast,wasinauguratedon
November22,1987.ItsunrivalledheightandunobstructedviewofMontrealmakethe
Observatoryamajortouristdestination.Theexcellentpanoramicviewofthecityfrom
thetowerobservatorywasawardeda3starratingfromtheMichelinGreenGuidein
1992andthebuildingsoftheOlympicComplexarelistedasarchitecturalpointsof
interest.In1987,afurtherevenmoresignificantimprovementtothecomplexwasfinally
completed:thestadiumroof.Justasplannedintheoriginalblueprints,theroofwasa
movableKevlarmembranecoveringaheretoforeunsurpassedsurfaceareaof23,270
squaremetres.
ThissolutionforcoveringtheStadiumroofprovedhowevertobeonlytemporary,forthe
prematurewearontheroofmembranecausedittotearseveraltimesduringthe1990s.
AndsotheRIOwascalledupontohaveanewroofdesignedandinstalled,whichthis
timewaspermanent(unmovable).Thus,in1998,theStadiumwascappedwithaflexible,
butfixedmembraneconsistingofameshofcablescoveredwith63fibreglasspanels
coatedwithTeflon.Severalmonthslater,duetooneofthepanelscollapsingunderthe
weightoftheaccumulatedwintersnowtheMontrealInternationalAutoShowwas
cancelled,eventhoughshowsetupwasalreadyunderway.Thisresultedinrestricting
accesstothecentralfloorareaoftheStadiumforthewinter,limitedaccessbeingonly
availableuponthefiredepartmentsapproval.In2004,theRIOannounceditsintentions
toinstallanewfixedroof,inordertomakethevastcentralareaofthestadiumaccessible
allyearlongwithnorestrictions.Intheend,Taillibertsoriginalobjectiveoffabricating
theworldsveryfirstmovabletextilemembraneroofturnedouttobeimpossibleto
attain.Asforthenumerousalternativeproposalssubmittedbytheengineers,they
demonstratedjusthowchallengingitcouldbetofindasolutionforreplacingan
architecturalcomponentthatisinkeepingwiththeoriginalstyle.

CaricatureoftheOlympicStadium,akaStade
TrektheNextGeneration,1999
AsfortheVelodrome,duetothefacilitysusershipandprofitabilityitbecamenecessary
tochangeitsfunction.OncetheOlympiccycleteamshadleft,thebuildingwas
determinedtobeunderused,andsoitwastransformedintoasciencemuseumwhose
interpretativefocuslargelydealtwithecosystemdiversity.ChristenedtheBiodome,the
museumopenedin1992.ItwascededtotheCityofMontrealthesameyearonthe
occasionofthecitys350thanniversary.EventhoughtheBiodomebecamean
educationalcentreandtouristmeccawhoseinterpretativeservicescomplemented
Montrealsothernaturemuseumsinperfectharmony(e.g.theBotanicalGardenandthe
MontrealInsectarium,bothlocatednearby),aswellascontributingremarkablyby
promotingandincreasingvisitortrafficusingtheOlympicsite,onemustnotforgetto
mentionthemajortransformationthattheinterioroftheVelodromeunderwent.Although
thesechangeswerenecessary,theywouldthereaftermakeitimpossibleforvisitorsto
appreciateorevenimaginehowthestructureoncelookedandhowthearchitectTaillibert
originallyintendedthatitbeused.Suchwastheconsequenceofmeetingtheconsiderable
challengethattheRIOhadtodealwithinordertoincreasetheprofitabilityofalarge
buildingthatwasverycostlytomaintain.Sadly,ithadtobedoneattheexpenseofsome
ofitsfundamentalarchitecturalcharacteristics.

PromotingtheOlympicStadiumanditsHeritage
Overtheyears,theOlympicfacilitieshavestirredupthebittercriticismofsomeofthe
mostcriticaljournalistsandcaricaturists.Nevertheless,80%ofallQuebecoisaresaidto
haveapositiveopinionoftheComplex(NOTE19).Inspiteofitslivelycontroversial
history,theStadiumremainsaremarkableaccomplishmentthatwilleventuallyfindits
rightfulplaceasapartoftheProvinceofQuebecsarchitecturalheritageformany
generationstocome.Fornootherbuilding,neitherintheprovincenorelsewherein
CanadacanevenbegintocomparewiththesingularuniquenessoftheMontrealOlympic
Stadiumanditseemsthatitisheretostayanditwillbearoundforalongwhileyet.

PanoramicviewlookingoutovertheeastofMontreal,takenfromMontRoyal.Intheforegroundthe
MontRoyalPlateau.Abitfurtherback,theOlympicStadiumwithits175metre[574.1foot]leaning
tower.Inthebackground,theSaintLawrenceRiver.July2002.
NotonlydidTaillibertsucceedininnovatingtechniqueswhilebuildingtheMontreal
OlympicPark(theStadiumwasthefirsttimeanintegratedapproachforprestressing
andposttensioningconcrete,aswellasforusingstructuraltextilesthathadeverbeen
used(NOTE20)),butthearchitectalsowassuccessfulinmeetinghisobjectiveof
successfullydesigning,creatingandcompletingasportscomplexthatcouldtrulybe
describedasamasterworkofart.
Theartisticqualitiesofthecomplexareselfevident,asmuchinthethinselfsupporting
weblikestructuremakinguptheroofoftheVelodromeandtheSwimCentre,asinthe
elegantloadbearingframeworkoftheStadiumwhichwasnotonlytheresultof
assemblingprefabricatedunitsofdifferentsizes,butalsothearchitectureofthetextile
roofstructurethatwasdesignedtoremainsuspendedbetweenaverticalloadbearing
architecturalcomponent(themast)andatensioned,movablehangingcomponent(the
Kevlarroofmembrane).Inaway,thewholewasasuccessfulfirst,eventhoughthis

particularroofdesigndidntbenefitfromathoroughunderstandingoftheextremewinter
temperaturessoprevalentintheProvinceofQuebec.

TheMontrealOlympicStadium,seenatnightfromthe
back,2007
Sincethattime,variousarchitectsandarchitecturehistorians,suchasLucNoppenand
JeanClaudeMarsan,havespokenoutinfavourofthesite,therebyredeemingsomeofits
excellentqualities.TheyemphasisethattheOlympicComplextestifiestotherecent
evolutionofQuebecsocietyandisaneloquentexampleofvisuallypoeticarchitecture
whoseaestheticvalueshouldbeappreciatedandpreserved.Yesterdaysgrievanceshave
alreadybeguntofadeaway,forthepopulationhasonceagainbeguntotakeownershipof
thisveryuniquepieceofurbanheritagethecontroversialcomplexhasbecomewidely
acceptablesymbolofQuebecanditssociety(NOTE21).
MuchliketheexampleoftheBirdsNestStadiumbuiltforthe2008BeijingOlympic
Games,theMontrealStadiumhasbecomedeeplyrootedinthehistoryoftheModern
Games.Thegrandidealsbehindtheeventinspirearchitectstoseektosurpasseachother,
evercreatingfreshnewarchitecturalconceptsthatneverceasetocapturetheimagination
ofthepublic.RogerTaillibertalsosoughttodoso,andsoheendeavouredtodesignand
createafeatofarchitecturethatdemonstratedanextraordinarylevelofmasteryofhisart.
Insodoing,hesucceededinsurpassing,intranscendingthetraditionalboundariesof
whatatthetimewasconsideredtobethehigheststandardsforathleticstadiums,inorder
tocreatehisveryownexclusivesignaturebrandofvisualartworkinarchitecture.Itis
thisveryqualitythatstillemanatesfromthismonumenttomodernism.
ItisonlyoncetheGamesareoverthattheworksofarchitecturethattheyinspiredbegin
tofindtheiractualpurposeandmeaning.Itisthenthattheybegintoacquiretheirtrue
heritagevalue,whethergreatorsmall,asthepublicbeginstofindauseforthemandin
sodoing,theyappropriatethem.TodaytheOlympicStadiumisafixtureinthelivesof
allMontrealersandhasfoundaplaceintheheartsofQuebecoisacrosstheprovince.Itis
certainlyonethebuildingthatrepresentscontemporaryMontreal,justasJeanDrapeau
hadplannedwhenhehaditbuilt.Inordertopreservethesiteinallitsintegrity,aswellas
toincreaseitsheritagevalue,aplanshouldbesetinplaceforofficiallyrecognisingthe
heritagesignificanceoftheOlympicStadiumbyclassingitasahistoricmonumentunder
QuebecsCulturalPropertyAct.

SorayaBassil
Museologist,modernheritageconservationspecialist,UniversitduQubecMontral
(UQAM)

AmlieDion

ArtHistorian,modernheritageconservationspecialist,UniversitduQubecMontral
(UQAM)

NOTES
1.ThetermmastwasusedbythearchitectTaillibertasananalogicalreferencetothe
mastofasailingship,whichheldupthesails.InthecontextoftheStadium,themast
helduptheweightofthemovabletextilemembraneoftheroof,whichTaillibertcalled
theUmbrellaoftheStadium.Takeninthissense,themastandtheroofasanensemble
couldbesaidtohaveanarchitecturalsynergythatdefinedtheverymaterialand
conceptualcoherenceoftheirrelationship.MontrealTowerishoweverthetermmost
oftenusedbytheRgiedesInstallationsOlympiques(RIO)[OlympicInstallations
Board].
2.ThisisthetermusedbyMarcEmeryinhiswritingsonTaillibert.
3.TheoriginalplansdrawnupbythearchitectRogerTaillibertcalledforamastmade
entirelyofconcrete.However,followingananalysiscarriedoutbytheQuebec
engineeringfirmSNCLavallinitwassuggestedthatthecolossalweightofsuchan
entirelyconcretestructurehadinherentrisks(itwastooheavytobestructurallysound).
Thatiswhytheuppersectionwasbuiltusingsteel.
4.AccordingtothefigurestakenfromFinancesParcOlympique,Minstredes
FinancesGouvernementduQubec,RapportfinalduCOJO,itcostedexactly
$1,286,069,000.ThisdidntincludethecostofbuildingtheOlympicVillage,aswellas
thatofconvertingtheVelodromeintotheBiodome.
5.HereonenoticesthattheOlympiccomplexinfrastructureswereaidoutinalignment
withrueSherbrookeinsteadofwithrueCamillieHoude,asoriginallyproposedin1956
byarchitectsClarkeandRapuano.Thisarrangementallowedforgreatersynergybetween
thealreadyexistinginfrastructuresandthosethatweretobeconstructed,thereby
establishingameaningfulconnectionbetweentheinorganicconcretestructuresofthe
OlympiccomplexandtheorganicvegetationofParcMaisonneuve.
6.Onemustmentionthatotherrenownedforeignarchitectshadalreadylefttheirmark
ontheMontreallandscapeinthe1960s,withoutraisingsuchacommotion.Furthermore,
atthetime,otherrenownedarchitectswerealreadyusingprestressedconcretebuilding
methodsintheUnitedStatesandCanada(e.g.theLouisKahn&AugustKommendant
duowhilebuildingtheJonasSalkInstituteforBiologicalStudies,LaJolla,California
(195965),aswellastheMoshieSafdie&AugustKommendantduofortheconstruction
ofHabitat67,Montreal,Quebec(1967).Nevertheless,prestressedconcretebuilding
methodsarelittleusedandhardlydeveloped,comparedwithmethodsforpouring
concreteonsite,whichalsocanbeusedtobuildverybold,innovativestructures,suchas
thoseofEeroSaarinen,whosearchitecturalstyleconsistsofseeminglymalleableshapes
andqualitiesthatcanbecomparedtothosevisibleinsomeofTaillibertsprojects(see
TransWorldFlightCenteratNewYorksJohnF.KennedyInternationalAirport(1956
1962)).
7.Atthebeginningofthe1970s,theCityofMontrealwastheprojectownerofthe
OlympicComplex.ItwasntuntilLaw81fortheincorporationoftheRgiedes
InstallationsOlympiques(RIO)[OlympicInstallationsBoard]waspassedonthe20thof
Novemberof1975thattheQuebecProvincialGovernmentbecametheprojectowner.
WiththeexceptionoftheBiodome,whichwasgiventotheCityofMontrealonthe
occasionofits350thanniversary,theremainingfacilitiesoftheOlympicComplexhave
nottothisverydaybeenretrocededtotheCityofMontreal.
8.Taillibertsbasicdesignisthatofabaseballstadium,exactlyashestatesinhisbook
Construirel'avenir[BuildingtheFuture](1977),p.50:Iwasgiventheobjectiveof

buildingastadiumsuitableforplayingbaseball(analreadypopularsportwhichwould
makethefacilitiesprofitableonalongtermbasis)thatwouldonlyhosttheOlympic
competitionsforashort15days,butwouldlaterneedtobecomeausefulassettothe
Montrealcommunity.Onpage60headds:Theplayingfieldorarenaforaparticular
sport(whetherbaseball,Americanfootball,soccerorboxing)predeterminesthe
spectatorsviewingneeds,whichisthemainreasonwhysuchlargescalestructuresneed
tobebuilt.
9.TaillibertandEmerywritethatintheplans,thevaultedinteriorofthemastwould
houseseveralopenplanareasthatcouldbedevelopedforspecificuses:Atthetopthere
willbearestaurantwithapanoramicviewthatcanbeaccessedusinganobservation
elevatoralsowithapanoramicview(Taillibert,1977:p.62).Emerystates:Themastis
aboldandoriginalexampleoftheObliqueFunctioninarchitecturethetoppart,at168
metres[551.2feet]talloverhangsthebaseby65metres[213.2feet].Thereare18floors
inthemastwhicharedividedupintovariousathleticequipmentroomsandtraininghalls.
Theycanbeaccessedusingtheglassedincablecar,aswellastwoelevators.Atthebase
ofthemast,spreadingfromoneendtotheother,isthe10,000squarefootSwimCentre
(1976:p.4344).
10.Avoussoirorquoinisatraditionalarchitecturalcomponentcutoutofstonetobeused
tobuildavaultorarch
11.Aprojectofsuchmagnitudeusuallyrequired5yearstobuild,butthebuilding
scheduleonlyallowedforthreeyearstobuildtheOlympicfacilities.
12.Thiscompanywastheonlyonetosubmitaproposalfortheprecastconcrete.Infact
itsShockbetonplantwasconstructedinordertomanufacturetheprecastconcrete
sectionsneedfortheOlympicsite.
13.ThearrangementsmadeforthefinancingoftheOlympicComplexareunique,forthe
Stadiumandthesurroundingathleticfacilitiesaretheonlypublicbuildingstohave
grantedamortgageintheirownright,thisarrangementmadeitpossibletopaytheentire
debtoff.Thisishowevernotthecaseofotherpublicbuildingswhoseconstructioncosts
areallocatedtoexpensesconsolidatedatthevariouslevelsoffederal,provincialand
municipalgovernment.Insodoing,theseexpensesstillareincorporatedintoQuebecois
totalpublicdebt.
14.EventhoughthefirstattemptstofinishthemastdatefromJuneof1979.
15.TheexterioroftheStadiumhasbeencompletedinaccordancewiththebuilding
plans,butthosefortheinteriorhavenotbeenfollowedtotheletternoteventhemast,
whichispartiallyconstructedofsteelinsteadofconcreteasplanned.
16.Since1977,thecentralareaof[oftheStadium],whichincludesthestandsisinuse
onanaverageof193daysayear.ThisenablestheRIOtogenerateasignificantrevenue
ofmorethan20milliondollarseachyear.TheStadiumalsoncreatesmajorspinoff
generatedbythevariouseventsthattakeplaceonsite,aswellasfromlocal,nationaland
internationaltourism.
17.Themainareacanholdmorethan60,000people.
18.ShowsandeventssuchastheMontrealInternationalAutoShow,Montreal
MotorcycleShow,SaloninternationaldelaJeunesse[YouthShow],theRVShowand
theCottage&CountryHomesShow.
19.AccordingtotheSondageLgerMarketingsurveycarriedoutinMarchof2009
(1500participantsintheProvinceofQuebec).
20.Tolearnmoreabouttheaccomplishmentsofthisgreatarchitect,seetheadditional
PDFdocumentintheannexestitledTheOrginsandEvolutionofTailliberts
ArchitecturalStyle.
21.JeanDrapeausaiditsoveryeloquentlywhenspeakingtoajournalistfromtheLa

Pressein1986:TheStadiumwilllastandbecometheveryproofofthequalityofits
workmanship.In1985,MarcelLger,thenMinisterofTourismspokealreadyin
visionaryterms,whenhesaidthattheStadiumcouldverywellbecomeaniconicsymbol
fortheCityofMontreal,justastheEiffelTowerisforParis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
SpecialisedReferenceMaterialsontheBuildingoftheComplex
Emery,Marc,RogerTaillibert,architecte|RogerTaillibert,Architect,Montral,ditions
1976,1976,79p.
Emery,Marc,RenHuygue,uvresrcentesdeRogerTaillibert,Paris,Mtropolis,
1977,119p.
Morin,GuyR.,LaCathdraleinacheve,Montral,XYZ,1997,379p.
Nora,Pierre,Leslieuxdemmoire,Paris,Gallimard,1984,volume3.
Orlandini,Alain,RogerTaillibert:ralisations,Paris,Somogyditionsd'art,2005,211
p.
Ragon,Michel,Histoiremondialedel'architectureetdel'urbanismemodernes,Paris,
Casterman,,1978,volumes2et3.
Taillibert,Roger,Construirel'avenir,Paris,PressesdelaCit,1977,215p.
AStudyoftheEventsSurroundingtheConstructionoftheStadium
Caza,Daniel,LesExpos:duparcJarryauStadeolympique.Montral,ditionsde
l'Homme,1996.
SpecialisedArticles
,StadeduparcdesPrinces,Architectured'Aujourd'hui,n164,octnov.1972,p.
9098.
Noppen,LucLeStadeolympique,Continuit,n53,printemps1992,p.3134.
Parent,Claude,InterviewTaillibert,Architecturefranaise,n401,fvrier1977I,p.
3748.
T.A.A.A.,Architecturemobile,TechniqueetArchitecture,n304,maijuin1975,p.
3337.
Taillibert,Roger,Architecturetextile,TechniqueetArchitecture,n304,maijuin
1975,p.32.
InternetSources
Taillibert,Roger,Agenced'architectureRogerTaillibert,2006,www.agencetaillibert.com
(SitevisitedonJanuary15,2010)
Rgiedesinstallationsolympiques,Historique,LaRgiedesinstallations
olympiques,GouvernementduQubec,2004.(SitevisitedonDecember30,2009)
VilledeMontral,JeuxdelaXXIeolympiadedeMontral1976,VilledeMontral
(SitevisitedonDecember30,2009)
Aselectionofvideoclipstakenfromvarioustelevisionshows[inFrench],Archivesde
RadioCanada(SitevisitedonJanuary15,2010)

Archives
Mediafile/DossierdepressetakenfromtheEurekadatabase:CEDEROMSniinc.
EUREKA.CC,[online,memberaccessonly],
www.biblio.eureka.cc/WebPages/Search/Result.aspx(SiteconsultedinJanuaryand
Februaryof2010).
MediafileStadeOlympique,19711990,ArchivesdelaVilledeMontral.
FondsE241,ComitorganisateurdesJeuxolympiques,19752000,Centred'archivesde
Montral|BibliothqueetArchivesnationalesduQubec.

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