Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum

Client : Les Sœurs de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame et Les Prêtres de Saint-Sulpice Year : 1998 Budget : 7.5 M$ Location : Montréal, QC

Transformation of an old school into the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum

Awards and Honours

1998 - Grand Prix Orange : Sauvons Montréal

1998 - Medal of Honour : Historical Society of Montreal

The Priests of Saint Sulpice have offered the Congregation Notre-Dame the opportunity to set up, in the heart of Old Montreal and on the very site of the first moments of the Congregation, a museum in memory of Marguerite-Bourgeoys, their founder.

The Museum, relating the life and work of Marguerite Bourgeoys, is housed in the former neighbourhood school adjacent to the historic Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel, in the very heart of one of the founding sites of the colony.

In addition to bringing the building up to standard as discreetly as possible, the restoration work has followed a rigorous approach that consists of highlighting all the authentic elements without drowning them in false reconstructions.

The old school has kept its five classrooms with its period woodwork and its original configuration as a reminder of its initial vocation. A new elevator was built inside the existing structure to provide universal access to the main floors.

In the basement, the Crypt located under the former chapel has been renovated and the masonry elements have been cleared and enhanced. The project also enabled the discovery, under the great nave of the present chapel, of the archaeological remains of the first chapel built in the 17th century.

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