Jeffrey Hutchison and Lemay renovate and expand Montréal Holt Renfrew as a renewed sustainably forward luxury flagship

By |2021-08-09T12:58:58-04:00June 30th, 2021|Press|

Designed by Jeffrey Hutchinson & Associates and Lemay, The Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store’s renewed presence in Montréal meets modern ecological standards using sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, recycled materials, and finishes from renewable resources.

The new flagship store is the largest Holt Renfrew store in Canada, occupying six floors in the historic Ogilvy Building in Montréal.

The expansion consolidated the existing Holt Renfrew store into the Ogilvy building.

Paying homage to the iconic Ogilvy store played a major role in the remodeling of the retailer’s largest location, once known as “the store of light.”

The architects honored this legacy by designing an open, spacious floor plan full of natural light, reintroduced through continuous 18-foot wide windows that also provide amazing views of the Montreal cityscape.

An extensive process followed to consolidate, upgrade, and expand the Ogilvy building.

The new store is directly connected to the Four Seasons hotel complex and private residences.

The project required in-depth coordination for the seamless integration of the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, as both buildings share connected spaces, despite being two separate real estate entities.

The flagship comprises hard shops (separate, self-contained mini boutiques), soft shops (which maintain the look of the surrounding store, except for each retailer’s wall coverings, furniture, and logos), fixture drops (with the retailer’s own cabinetry and walls), and ribbon walls, separating open spaces and showcasing retailers’ products.

The architects selected a consistent “core” material palette for all floors, which provides a distinct, cohesive identity that plays harmoniously with all the individual brands.

This rich palette is comprised of warm textures and finishes such as bleached oak wood floors, cream terrazzo and gray stone, as well as satin nickel and brushed brass metals.

It was paramount to the project team the new Holt Renfrew Ogilvy flagship meet modern sustainability standards.

While extensive reconstruction and system upgrades were necessary including front revolving doors, octagonal columns, spiral staircase, elevator façades—the stone on the building’s exterior was also reworked, in addition to the windows and moldings being changed.

Otherwise, the remainder of the building was kept in its original state.

Additionally, the prominent Café Holt is located on the 2nd floor of the building. Its inviting use of warm woods, brown carpeting, and gold embellishments are reminiscent of the 1940s Hollywood Gatsby era. The café was designed by a Parisian design firm, Laplace.

Additionally, the prominent Café Holt is located on the 2nd floor of the building. Its inviting use of warm woods, brown carpeting, and gold embellishments are reminiscent of the 1940s Hollywood Gatsby era. The café was designed by a Parisian design firm.

The store is now home to over 99 luxury stores. It combines a modern esthetic with key heritage elements, reminiscent of the store when it first opened in 1912.

Project: The Holt Renfrew Ogilvy Store
Architects: Jeffrey Hutchinson & Associates and Lemay
Café Holt Architects: Laplace
Client: Holt Renfrew Ogilvy
Photographers: Frederic Bouchard