A Historic Building becomes a Contemporary Workplace shaped by Hospitality, Collaboration, and Human-scale Design

In Montreal’s Golden Square Mile, the law firm Cain Lamarre has relocated its offices to a heritage building, reaffirming its commitment to remaining rooted in the city’s architectural history while redefining what a contemporary legal workplace can be. Designed in collaboration with Sid Lee Architecture, the project rejects the formality traditionally associated with law offices in favor of a warmer, more open environment inspired by hospitality design.

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Conceived as a vibrant urban square, the new workspace balances the functional demands of legal practice with spaces that encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and informal exchange. A careful mix of open and private areas allows confidentiality and conviviality to coexist, while authentic materials and generous natural light contribute to a fluid, intuitive experience. From the earliest planning stages, the design emphasized flexibility, future growth, and collective participation, with a representative committee from within the firm actively involved in shaping the project. This thoughtful approach was recognized with a Gold certification at the Grands Prix du design.

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by a reception area and café that provide a calm counterpoint to the surrounding city. Architectural elements reference the building’s original structure, combining felt modules, indirect lighting, and white-painted exposed concrete to create a refined yet welcoming atmosphere. Overlooking the city, the café and lounge quickly become social hubs, reflecting the firm’s values of integrity, trust, and openness.

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

At the heart of the space stands a monumental staircase that serves as both a functional and symbolic centerpiece. Connecting the two floors, it channels natural light through a double-height volume and incorporates Quebec maple steps and softly colored metalwork. An interior garden at the landing introduces moments of pause and interaction, reinforcing the staircase’s role as the project’s social nerve center.

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Complementing these shared spaces, a cafeteria set slightly apart from the main circulation offers an enveloping retreat. Its distinctive color palette, flexible furnishings, and connection to the central agora allow it to accommodate daily use as well as collective events. Around the perimeter, enclosed offices and meeting rooms provide quieter zones, while curved forms, layered volumes, and subtle Art Deco references animate circulation and tie the contemporary intervention back to the building’s historic character.

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Photo credit: Alex Lesage

Together, these elements position Cain Lamarre’s new office as a model for how heritage architecture can be thoughtfully adapted to support modern professional life—one that values human connection as much as legal expertise.

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.