Pierre and Sylvie love spending time in the city. That’s why they decided to buy a 740 sq. ft. condo in the Evolo S tower, overlooking downtown Montreal, to use as a pied-à-terre. “At first we weren’t totally sold on buying a place on Nuns’ Island, because we thought we’d be isolated and far from everything. But that’s totally not the case! It actually only takes us eight minutes max to get downtown on the bus, and we’re able to hop right on the highway to go to our home in the Eastern Townships,” says Pierre.
Exploring the Pointe Nord neighbourhood
Even though they just recently moved in, Pierre and Sylvie have already taken a liking to their new surroundings. “We love Nuns’ Island. You’ve got all the advantages of a big city, without the inconveniences,” says Sylvie. The couple was won over by the island’s charm, its many parks and trails, and the variety of local businesses there. “We’re already becoming regulars at Pointe Nord neighbourhood establishments, including the restaurants, corner store, dry cleaner…. We can find all we need at Place du Commerce. Everything is really close by,” says Pierre.
Pierre and Sylvie also appreciate the amenities of the building itself. “We’ve already rented the guest suite for our friends, we regularly spend time at the pool, and we’re planning to start taking advantage of the gym as soon as we’re totally settled in.”
On buying a pre-construction condo
“This is the first time we’ve bought pre-construction, but we felt confident in our decision given Proment‘s reputation and expertise. We were impressed by the way they delivered on their deadlines throughout the entire construction process,” says Pierre. “In our case, they were right on schedule for completing our condo as well as the building’s common areas.”
A dazzling show every night
“We don’t think we’ll ever get tired of watching the days turn into night, with beautiful sunsets and the city lights below starting to twinkle. And when there’s a fireworks display, we’ve got front-row seats right on our balcony. In our old condo, we had a picture of the view of downtown Montreal on our wall. Now we just walk to our window to see the real thing. We really feel like VIPs here,” he says.
Here’s wishing Pierre and Sylvie lots of happiness in their new condo in Pointe-Nord.
Proment Corporation broke ground today, starting the construction of Evolo X, the fourth residential tower in the Pointe Nord district of Nuns’ Island. Jean-François Parenteau, Mayor of the borough of Verdun, along with Francine Brûlé and Serge Bruneau, future residents of Evolo X and owners of Les Enfants Terribles restaurant on Nuns’ Island, joined the developer’s team to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony.
“The Evolo project and the transformation of Pointe-Nord are part of a big-city development trend, an urban concept based on community life and respectful of the carbon footprint,” Mayor Parenteau stated. The Evolo X tower, includes 285 condos and will be ready to welcome its first residents in 2020.
Evolo X, a prime location
Evolo X will enjoy a very special location at the tip of the island, providing unobstructed views of the river and of downtown Montreal. The 36-storey building, Proment Corporation’s most imposing project to date, offers luxury condominiums ranging from 630 to 4,500 square feet in area, responding to the tastes and needs of today’s clientele. Residents will be able to enjoy luxurious common areas equipped with modern facilities including indoor and outdoor pools, a spa with whirlpool, sauna and steam bath, a well-equipped exercise room, a film screening room, a landscaped garden and a square adorned with statues by Montreal artist Linda Covit. The building, with a design and finish that have received special attention, was devised by two architectural firms, Jean-Pierre Bart Architect and Lemay Michaud.
“From the very beginning, the project has been a great success,” said Ilan Gewurz, Executive Vice President of Proment. “This shows just how much the area is recognized now as a great place to live.”
Evolo X is located on a privileged location
Respecting the environment
The developer is aiming for LEED certification, giving residents the benefit of the highest environmental standards and producing substantial energy savings. It has been shown that investments in energy efficiency increase property values considerably. Proment is putting its expertise in ecological construction to use, having already received LEED Gold certification for four other Nuns’ Island residential towers.
Pointe-Nord, a unique community
Since the Pointe Nord neighbourhood was established in 2009, enthusiasm for properties there has been evident. Pointe Nord gives Nuns’ Island a whole new dimension and a different lifestyle. It stands apart in particular through its original selection of boutique shops, restaurants and a bakery within walking distance for residents, as well as its proximity to main roads and public transit. The building of a light-rail station is also being planned, an obvious advantage for residents. Pointe Nord is also attractive because of its riverside location five minutes from downtown, its parks and its trails along the water.
An overview of the neighbourhood
About the Pointe-Nord neighbourhood
The Pointe-Nord neighbourhood (www.pointenord.com), one of the few neighbourhoods certified LEED ND Gold in Quebec, already counts about 1,200 residents and Evolo X is the sixth phase of the project. Pointe-Nord will occupy a total area of one million square feet within 5 years and will include some 1,600 properties for a total value of approximately $700 million.
About Proment Corporation
Founded in 1965, Proment Corporation, a Montreal based real-estate development company, has been Nuns’ Island’s primary residential developer for over 30 years, having planned and built over 5,000 condos and homes, six waterfront communities, and the first LEED gold residential towers in Quebec as well as one of the few LEED ND neighbourhoods in Canada. Proment has been recognized seven times by the Provincial Association of Homeowners of Quebec (APCHQ) as Builder of the Year in acknowledgement of its creative achievements and has also won numerous other real-estate awards. Proment Corporation, the leader in eco-friendly residential real estate in Quebec, was awarded LEED Gold certification for three of its waterfront projects, namely Le Vistal 1 and 2, as well as Evolo 1 and 2.
Evolo 2 tower on Nuns’ Island awarded Leed Gold Certification: Fourth such distinction for Proment Corporation
Evolo 2 Condominium located in the Pointe-Nord neighbourhood of Nuns’ Island has obtained the Canada Green Building Council’s (CaGBC) prestigious LEED Gold certification. An official ceremony, as well as an educational evening, was held to unveil the official plaque. In attendance were Louis-Philip Bolduc, Eng., LEED AP BD+C, outgoing President of the CaGBC – Quebec Chapter, representatives of Proment Corporation, as well as Evolo 2 residents. This marks the fourth such certification for the developer: its Vistal 1 and 2 towers, as well as Evolo 1, have previously earned LEED Gold status.
“We are committed to environmental stewardship and to reducing the carbon footprint for residents of our buildings,” explains Samuel Gewurz, President, Proment Corporation. “Obtaining LEED certification requires completion of a very stringent process, and we are proud to have invested the necessary efforts in doing so. It bears mentioning that only 39 residential buildings of six storeys or more have been LEED-certified in Canada. Four of them are in Quebec, and all were built by the Proment team,” he adds. Evolo 2 is a 30-storey high-rise with 261 condo units. The complex situated in the heart of the waterfront Pointe-Nord neighbourhood, which has been awarded LEED ND Gold (Neighbourhood Development) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Rigorous criteria met
Mr. Bolduc congratulated the team behind the Evolo 2 building: “We are very pleased to be awarding this fourth LEED Gold certification to Proment Corporation. It is thanks to companies like Proment that Quebec is at the forefront of sustainable building in Canada,” he says.
To obtain LEED accreditation, building developers must meet green building criteria in six categories: sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, as well as operations design and innovation.
“In fact, it is only once a project is completed that the Canada Green Building Council – Quebec Chapter conducts the necessary verifications to ensure that construction and operations are compliant with sustainable development standards,” explains Louis-Joseph Papineau, Eng., LEED AP, and Vice-President, Development and Construction, Proment Corporation.
Clear benefits for residents
“Besides using 55% less water than a standard building, our new buildings are 45% to 50 % more energy-efficient,” Mr. Papineau continues, noting that the yearly heating and electricity bill for residents of the Evolo 1 and 2 towers works out to about $0.46 per square foot.
Proment Corporation intends to continue to do its part for the environment and apply sustainable construction principles to all of its real estate projects. “We are seeking LEED certification for the Evolo S and Evolo X towers. Our hope is that our successes in green construction will prompt other developers to follow our lead and build sustainably as well,” Mr. Gewurz says.
About Evolo S and Evolo X
The Evolo S tower welcomed its first residents in March 2017. The developer has built six model condo units with different designers, which are open for prospective buyers to visit. Marketing of the Evolo X tower, meanwhile, began in October 2016, and the project has been well received, with 80% of units already sold. Evolo X will be the 20th high-rise developed by Proment on Nuns’ Island. “For us, this is an exceptional project that stands out for its location and the incomparable views of the city and the river. It will also be acclaimed for the unrivalled luxury and lifestyle enjoyed residents,” Mr. Gewurz concludes.
About Pointe-Nord
The Pointe-Nord community (www.pointenord.com), is one of the few neighbourhood developments in Quebec to be certified LEED ND Gold. It already numbers some 1,400 residents. At competion, Pointe-Nord will cover a total of one million square feet, with some 1,600 condominium properties totalling approximately $700 million in value.
About Proment Corporation
Founded in 1965, Proment Corporation (www.proment.com) s a real estate development company well known for its innovative residential projects, all of them located on Nuns’ Island, where Proment has built more than 5,000 condominium units. The innovative design and quality construction of Proment projects have been frequently recognized by the Quebec Order of Architects, the Institut de développement urbain (IDU), and the Quebec Provincial Residential Construction Association (APCHQ), which have given Proment numerous awards, including 7 “Builder of the Year” distinctions in the last 20 years alone.
Andy Rioux’s design for this 740-ft2 condo in Evolo S is his vision of what it might feel like to live full-time as a bachelor in a luxury hotel.
Minimalist decor
“I gave the condo a sleek minimalist look, like what you’d see at a trendy boutique hotel,” says Andy. The condo directly overlooks downtown Montreal, and as soon was you walk in, your eye is instantly drawn to the amazing panorama. When night falls, the massive picture windows become a living portrait. It feels like you’re in the front row of a breathtaking show, whether you’re in the living room, on the balcony or in the bedroom. All you need is to put some seating in the right places and you’re all set.
A recurring theme
“With new buildings, I sometimes find it nice to maintain a link between the building’s common areas and the condo itself,” explains Andy. “The lobby was my starting point. I ran with the concept and worked in a satin-finish white and wood panels for the condo.” Andy then gives black a prominent role: “It’s my trademark colour and never goes out of style.”
Since the small condo is meant for a bachelor, Andy chose black and wood for a masculine feel, while allowing the space a practical functionality—the office space converts easily into a dining room to host friends, and three wall units offer extra storage space.
The design challenge
Designing a model condo means working with a very small budget. So Andy made and installed all the furniture, artwork and photography himself, including the bed, table and wall units as well as the unique three-dimensional piece in the bedroom.
“I put so much of my heart and soul into it that it was actually bittersweet when it was finished,” he says. “As artists, we tend to get attached to our creations. I created and built this condo as though it were my own.”
Andy is a resident of Pointe Nord and has been a designer for 14 years. He just completed architectural technician training to add to his repertoire but says his true passion will always be for design.
In an effort to help future homeowners imagine the full potential of the condos for sale in the Evolo S and Evolo X buildings in Pointe-Nord, Proment Corporation has tasked interior designers with decorating six model condos using different themes. The apartments range in size from 620 to 1,005 square feet and will be available for viewing in May.
Until then, here’s a series of articles about each designer and their concept for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
Annie Lacaille, designer
Gentle femininity
For some 10 years, Annie Lacaille has been working with the team from Proment Corporation as an interior designer. ”I like decorating model condos for a real estate promoter,” she says.“Proment wants our feedback about the architecture and considers our recommendations about lighting, plumbing and special planning. “This means we can improve the original concept and incorporate the latest trends”.
The condo Annie’s styling for Evolo S is a 2-bedroom unit of 820 square feet, and its occupant is a professional woman who frequently travels abroad.She wants to have a feminine, cosy and spacious home—a place where she doesn’t feel walled in.
Most of the furniture comes from Pottery Barn at the Quartier DIX30 shopping centre. ”Pottery Barn has a wide array of home furnishings and accessories that I felt were perfect for the look I wanted to achieve”.
Challenges
One of the challenges of decorating a condo is to keep it from feeling cluttered.That’s why Annie opted for furniture in shades of off-white and transparent tables that help make the space feel light. The condo’s spectacular view of the city and the St. Lawrence make the space feel even more vast. At night, you can see the city lights twinkling in the distance. It’s magical!
Smart tip
Annie installed a faux brick wall in the living room to add more warmth to the room. The wall covering is made of 3′ x 4′ ceramic tiles.“In my opinion, the real centrepiece is the wallpaper mural in the master bedroom,” adds Annie. “But I don’t want to spoil all the surprise. You’ll just have to come visit the condo to find out more.”
Pointe-Nord-based interior designer Cathy Brisset signed on to design a two-bedroom condo in our Evolo S building.
Cathy has worked as an interior designer since 2010, following a career as a personal stylist for the likes of Roch Voisine, Kevin Parent, Véronique Cloutier and other well-known Quebec artists and TV personalities.
With niche expertise in luxury custom-made furniture, Cathy works with a very qualified team to create unique concepts. “I like adding a personal touch to my client’s decor. I often design the furniture myself and have it custom made by local artisans. I’m always looking for that unique element that adds character to the space, whether it be lighting, artwork, or something else.”
About Cathy’s condo in Evolo S
Cathy told us a bit about her concept: “The Evolo S condo I’m decorating is for a single mom and her daughter. I’m going with a contemporary but very feminine look. It’s a 990-square-foot condo overlooking the water, so I’m planning to install a huge mirror in the living room to show off the amazing view! The condo’s modern furniture will be provided by Montreal-based Perez Furniture, and I’ve chosen lighting and unique accessories from Celadon. The custom bedding, curtains and cushions are from Baharistan Haute Couture.”
Pro tip
Instead of going with the latest trends in design concepts, opt for timeless, traditional materials in more neutral colours. You can then add colour accents and incorporate brightly coloured accessories according to your tastes. You can even select different accessories, cushions, and bedding to achieve different looks for the spring-summer and fall-winter seasons.
