Place Montreal Trust
A downtown Montreal shopping centre connected to the city's Underground City network.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Place Montreal Trust is an enclosed shopping centre in downtown Montreal, Quebec, at the intersection of Sainte-Catherine Street and McGill College Avenue. It occupies a prominent position west of the Montreal Eaton Centre and forms part of the pedestrian-connected Underground City, giving it a role in the retail and office environment of central Montreal. The complex contains more than 320,000 square feet, or approximately 29,729 square metres, of stores and services and is described in reference material as attracting about 14 million visitors annually. Those figures are associated with the mall's published and reference descriptions rather than a separately audited current operating report. The property is distinguished by its large atrium, which is designed to bring substantial natural light into the interior. Its principal architectural feature is an indoor fountain with a water jet reaching approximately 30 metres. Reference material identifies this as the highest indoor water spout in North America. During the holiday season, the atrium has also accommodated a large illuminated Christmas tree decorated with animated storybook characters, reinforcing the centre's role as both a retail destination and a public-oriented downtown space. The project emerged from a more ambitious proposal that would have included a concert hall at mezzanine and basement levels. That concept was controversial because the associated office tower would have partially obstructed views of Mount Royal from McGill College Avenue. Architectural activist Phyllis Lambert, who was also a member of Cadillac Fairview's board, participated in opposition to the proposal. The concert-hall plan was ultimately abandoned, and the project was redesigned with a wider setback. The revised approach accompanied the widening and scenic treatment of McGill College Avenue and produced the shopping-centre configuration that opened on March 30, 1988. The Place Montreal Trust complex also includes the Bell Media Tower. The property takes its name from the Montreal Trust Company, which helped finance construction, was one of the original co-owners, and became the principal tenant of the tower. The original ownership structure also included the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Cadillac Fairview-Shafter. Ownership and management subsequently changed. Ivanhoe Inc. assumed management of the shopping-centre portion in August 1995, while Cadillac Fairview continued to manage the office building. In July 1999, Ivanhoe acquired 100 percent of Place Montreal Trust as part of a reported 20 million dollar package intended to support the centre's position in the revitalization of downtown Montreal. The present ownership structure is not established by the supplied sources. The centre has also hosted entertainment-oriented tenants. Planet Hollywood opened at Place Montreal Trust in July 1998, initially attracting strong business, but closed in September 2001. Its former entrance occupied the northwest corner of Sainte-Catherine Street, with additional space on the mall's third floor; the area was later returned to retail use. Today, Place Montreal Trust remains positioned as a centrally located urban shopping centre serving downtown workers, residents, tourists, and users of Montreal's underground pedestrian network.
History
Place Montreal Trust was developed as a major downtown Montreal commercial complex at Sainte-Catherine Street and McGill College Avenue. The original concept was more ambitious than the completed shopping centre: it contemplated a concert hall in the mezzanine and basement levels, combined with an office tower. The proposed tower's potential effect on views of Mount Royal from McGill College Avenue generated public opposition. Phyllis Lambert, an architectural activist and a Cadillac Fairview board member, took part in protests against the plan despite her connection to one of the project's corporate participants. The concert-hall proposal was abandoned during the redesign process. The revised project incorporated a wider setback and was associated with the development of McGill College Avenue as a broader scenic avenue. Place Montreal Trust opened to the public on March 30, 1988. Its design emphasized a naturally lit indoor atrium, and the completed complex included a large fountain whose water jet rises approximately 30 metres. The fountain and atrium became the property's most recognizable architectural features. The development also formed part of Montreal's interconnected indoor pedestrian environment, now known as the Underground City. The complex was named after the Montreal Trust Company. That company helped lend money for construction, held an original ownership interest alongside the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Cadillac Fairview-Shafter, and became the principal occupant of the office tower. The Bell Media Tower is part of the broader Place Montreal Trust complex. The retail and office components were not always managed in the same way: Ivanhoe Inc. assumed management of the shopping centre in August 1995, while Cadillac Fairview retained responsibility for the office building. In July 1999, Ivanhoe acquired full ownership of Place Montreal Trust in a reported 20 million dollar transaction package. The acquisition was presented as part of an effort to make the property a significant participant in the revitalization of downtown Montreal. The sources supplied for this dossier do not establish the property's later ownership, current management company, or a detailed tenant list. Place Montreal Trust has periodically combined retail with entertainment and seasonal public programming. Planet Hollywood opened in July 1998 and initially generated strong business, but its restaurant closed in September 2001. The former restaurant area was returned to retail use. The atrium has also supported holiday displays, including a tall illuminated Christmas tree with animated storybook characters. Reference material describes the centre as containing more than 320,000 square feet of stores and services and receiving approximately 14 million visitors annually. Place Montreal Trust remains an active downtown shopping centre and an element of Montreal's underground pedestrian and commercial network.
- 2001
Planet Hollywood closes
[1]The Planet Hollywood restaurant closed in September and its former space was converted back to retail use.
- 1999
Ivanhoe acquires the property
[1]Ivanhoe acquired 100 percent of Place Montreal Trust in July as part of a reported 20 million dollar package.
- 1998
Planet Hollywood becomes a tenant
[1]A Planet Hollywood restaurant opened at the centre in July.
- 1995
Ivanhoe begins retail-centre management
[1]Ivanhoe Inc. assumed management of the shopping-centre portion, while Cadillac Fairview continued to manage the office building.
- 1988
Shopping centre opens
[1]Place Montreal Trust opened on March 30 after the project was redesigned to remove the proposed concert hall and provide a wider setback along McGill College Avenue.
Products and positioning
A centrally located downtown Montreal shopping and services destination differentiated by its Underground City connections, prominent atrium, landmark fountain, and integration with an office tower.
Shopping-centre retail · 1988
Retail stores
Place Montreal Trust houses a broad collection of downtown-oriented stores and services in an enclosed commercial setting. The supplied references do not provide a complete current tenant directory, so the centre is described at the category level rather than through named current retailers.
Food service · 1988
Food and beverage space
The complex has included restaurant and food-service uses as part of its tenant mix. Its documented entertainment tenant was Planet Hollywood, which operated from 1998 until its closure in 2001. Current food-service tenants are not specified in the supplied reference material.
Property amenity · 1988
Atrium and indoor fountain
The centre's naturally lit atrium is a defining public-facing feature. It contains an indoor fountain with a water spout of approximately 30 metres, identified by the reference material as the highest indoor water spout in North America. Seasonal displays, including a large illuminated Christmas tree, have also been presented in the atrium.
Brand decisions
1999
Ivanhoe acquires full ownershipM&ABackground
Ivanhoe had managed the shopping-centre portion since 1995 and sought to position the property within downtown Montreal's revitalization plans.
Action taken
Ivanhoe acquired 100 percent of Place Montreal Trust in July 1999.
Aftermath
The acquisition consolidated ownership of the property under Ivanhoe. The supplied source describes the transaction as part of a reported 20 million dollar package.
Reported acquisition package. 20 million dollars (July 1999)
1995
Transfer of shopping-centre management to IvanhoeStrategyBackground
The retail and office components of the complex had distinct management arrangements.
Action taken
Ivanhoe Inc. assumed management of the shopping centre in August, while Cadillac Fairview continued to manage the office building.
Aftermath
The change established Ivanhoe's operating role in the retail property before its later acquisition of the entire centre.
1988
Abandonment of the concert-hall conceptStrategyBackground
The initial development proposal included a concert hall and an office tower that would have partially obstructed views of Mount Royal from McGill College Avenue. The plan faced public opposition, including from architectural activist Phyllis Lambert.
Action taken
The concert-hall concept was dropped and the project was redesigned with a wider setback, supporting a broader scenic treatment of McGill College Avenue.
Aftermath
The revised project opened as Place Montreal Trust on March 30, 1988, with a shopping-centre and office-complex configuration.
Recent events
- 2001
Planet Hollywood restaurant closes[1]
Other
The Planet Hollywood location at Place Montreal Trust closed in September 2001, after approximately three years of operation; the space was subsequently converted back to retail use.
- 1999
Ivanhoe acquires full ownership of Place Montreal Trust[1]
M&A
Ivanhoe acquired 100 percent of Place Montreal Trust in July 1999 as part of a reported 20 million dollar package connected with downtown Montreal revitalization efforts.
- 1998
Planet Hollywood opens at Place Montreal Trust[1]
Other
Planet Hollywood opened a restaurant at the centre in July 1998. It initially performed strongly but later closed in September 2001.
- 1995
Ivanhoe assumes shopping-centre management[1]
Other
Ivanhoe Inc. took over management of the shopping-centre portion of the complex, while Cadillac Fairview continued managing the office building.
- 1988
Place Montreal Trust shopping centre opens[1]
Other
The redesigned Place Montreal Trust shopping centre opened on March 30, 1988, following the abandonment of an earlier concert-hall concept and changes intended to preserve views toward Mount Royal.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/place-montreal-trust · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled