Ottawa-based developer BRIGIL unveiled new plans for Place des Peuples yesterday during their 30th anniversary celebrations at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. Set to rise across the street from the museum at 61-77 Rue Laurier, the project has been given a brand new design after feedback received during a series of public consultations. Consisting of two towers atop a shared podium, the $400-million CAD project was designed by the original architect for the Museum of History, Douglas Cardinal Architects, in collaboration with NEUF architect(e)s.

Place des Peuples will change the Gatineau skyline, image courtesy of Brigil

The north tower, called Renaissance, will be a 55-storey building featuring a 360-degree observation deck on the top floor, while the south tower, Alliance, will rise to 35 storeys. In total, 420 condominium units and 320 hotel rooms are planned for the area with an additional 11,000 square metres of commercial real estate and the indoor public space known as Place des Peuples animating the base of the building. This marks a 65,000-square-metre increase in commercial space from the original scheme for the project.

The base of the buildings will feature commercial real estate spaces, image courtesy of Brigil

The design of the new concept strongly recalls that of the Canadian Museum of History, whose curves were intended to emulate the nearby Ottawa River. The two towers will be clad in blue glass, boasting slick, seamless facades on the east and west, while the northern and southern sides of the buildings will provide visitors and residents with ample balconies to take in the surrounding views. Place des Peuples is a key element in Gatineau's plan to attract 10,000 new residents to its core within the next few years.

View of the curving facades of Place des Peuples, image courtesy of Brigil

If approved, Place des Peuples would bring Cardinal's 30-year-old dream of a placing a vertical structure alongside The Canadian Museum of History closer to reality. In that time, highrise construction in the National Capital Region has been limited due to height regulations that protect the views from and towards the Peace Tower. A timeline for the project is not yet available, but you can find more renderings and information in our Database file, and you can voice your opinion about this development by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page, or by visiting the dedicated forum thread.