Place-des-Arts station explained

Place-des-Arts
Style:Montreal Metro
Address:2020, rue de Bleury
Montreal, Quebec H3A 2J3
Country:Canada
Depth:11.6m (38.1feet), 47th deepest
Opened:14 October 1966
Architect:David, Boulva, et Clève
Rebuilt:2007-2010 (de Bleury south exit) 2019-2022 (de Bleury north exit)
Accessible:Yes
Operator:Société de transport de Montréal
Zone:ARTM

A[1]

Place-des-Arts station is a Montreal Metro station in the borough of Ville-Marie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[2] It is operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and serves the Green Line. The station opened on October 14, 1966, as part of the original network of the Metro. It is located in the Quartier des spectacles district, in east-central downtown.

Overview

Designed by David, Boulva, et Cleve, it is a normal side platform station built in open cut under boul. De Maisonneuve, with two ticket halls joined by corridors that surround and overlook the platforms. The eastern mezzanine includes staircases with one-way exit-only turnstiles. The station is joined by underground city to Place des Arts and Université du Québec à Montréal, and has additional four street-level exits.

The station's walls are coved in light-grey bricks in a zig-zag layout.

The station is equipped with the MétroVision information screens which displays news, commercials, and the time until the next train arrives.

The station has 4 entrances:

1555, rue Jeanne-Mance

2020, rue de Bleury

1990, rue de Bleury

150, rue Ontario

Architecture and art

The station features art by Frédéric Back: a massive stained glass mural entitled L'histoire de la musique à Montréal ("history of music in Montreal"). The work is composed of thousands of layered pieces of glass backlit by 105 lighting tubes and supported by a tonne of steel. The glass surface is rippled, causing the brilliant colours to shimmer ethereally. The work was originally intended to be an homage to four important Quebec musical artists: the composers Calixa Lavallée, Guillaume Couture, Alexis Contant, and soprano Dame Emma Albani. Unveiled on December 20, 1967, this stained glass was the first work of art to be commissioned for the Metro system. In 2008 the lighting system was completely renovated by the lighting artist Axel Morgenthaler.

The second work of art is a hand-glazed ceramic mosaic by the artist Saskia Siebrand, installed in 2005. It contains tiles of over 300 colours, all custom hand-glazed.

This architectural composition made of perforated aluminum panels was added to conceal a telecommunications room that had been added over the station's western tunnel opening. Before this work was added, the Montréal métro featured only one mosaic, the one by Gabriel Bastien and Andrea Vau at Sherbrooke station.

Accessibility

In March 2019, a real estate developer announced a new condo project on top of the De Bleury north entrance, and the entrance building was closed to the public. In the meantime, the STM also worked on improving the station's accessibility by installing three elevators from the street level to the platforms.[3] The entrance building reopened on June 16, 2022 and the station became accessible on July 21, 2022.[4]

Origin of the name

This station is named for the Place des Arts cultural complex. Opened in 1963, this complex includes five concert halls, including the largest multipurpose concert hall in Canada, and an art museum.

Connecting bus routes

Route
15 Sainte-Catherine
35 Griffintown
55 Boulevard Saint-Laurent (Southbound)
80 Avenue du Parc
125 Ontario
129 Côte-Sainte-Catherine
363 Boulevard Saint-Laurent (Southbound)
365 Avenue du Parc
465 Express Côte-des-Neiges (Northbound)[5]
480 Express Du Parc

Nearby points of interest

Connected via the underground city

Other

Film and television appearances

Scenes of the 2017 Keanu Reeves film were filmed at the station.[6] [7] The station was redressed to stand in for a New York City Subway station.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fare Zones . . 1 July 2022 . 1 July 2022.
  2. http://www.stm.info/English/metro/a-m31.htm Place-des-Arts Metro Station
  3. Web site: Work underway at Place-des-Arts station . 2022-07-22 . Société de transport de Montréal.
  4. Web site: 21 July 2022 . Place-des-Arts : une 21e station du réseau du métro devient accessible universellement . 2022-09-20 . Société de transport de Montréal . fr.
  5. Web site: Latest bus news for September . Société de transport de Montréal . 2019-08-22.
  6. Web site: Where was John Wick Chapter 2 filmed? Complete Filming Locations Guide. 2022-01-13. Atlas of Wonders. en.
  7. Web site: pda. 2016-12-09. Recording and Filming at Place des Arts. 2022-01-13. Place des Arts. en.