Montreal Tower Design Refflects Cree Culture

Canadian property management company and developer Cogir Real Estate recently broke ground for the Odea Montreal, a residential tower being built in partnership with Cree Regional Economic Enterprises Co. (CREECO), The Architect’s Newspaper reports. The 25-story, mixed-use tower will provide 263 rental apartments and 171 condo units for purchase. A sky lounge, two rooftop pools, common areas and an arts space are also planned. CREECO, which is owned by the Cree Nation Government and works to invest in developments that better the lives of the Cree Nation across Quebec, and Cogir have tapped Lemay and Indigenous architect Douglas Cardinal for the tower’s design. According to the source, both the name of the project itself and the shape reference Cree culture: “ode” means “canoe” in Cree, and the massing of the building nods to a nautical heritage as the tower sharply rises to a “prow” above the main entrance. Below, the impression of a canoe, ribbed by recessed balconies, has been carved away from the corner, helping to both funnel visitors to the main entrance and further reinforce the “ode” part of the Odea name. Odea Montreal is set for completion in 2024 and will begin taking unit reservations in 2022.