Also known as: Annexe de l'Hôtel de ville Also known as: City Hall Annex Built: 1912-1913 Designed by: Marchand and Haskell Renovated: 1957-1960 Renovated: 1961-1963 Type: Government Building Stories: 5 Location: 775 rue Gosford, Montréal, Canada
W hile the public face of Montreal's city hall is all about pomp and circumstance, around the corner and down the hill it's far different.
The Municipal Courthouse, also known as the City Hall Annex, uses classical architecture to show the bureaucratic face of the city's government. Tall arches that dwarf pedestrian-scal doors, and even taller columns are an imposing presence on this side-street.
The previous building at this location was the Gosford Street Congregational Church, built from 1843 to 1844. That congregation moved on, but the building continued to be used as a place of worship for several years. In the 1890's it was used as a theater before it and several private homes were demolished to make way for the present structure.
But it wasn't long before even this annex proved inadequate for city hall's needs. From 1957 to 1960 an additional building was attached to the rear of this one to serve as police headquarters and the two buildings were unified inside shortly thereafter.
Address: 775 rue Gosford, Montréal, Québec,
Address: 310 rue Saint Louis
Address: 333-335, rue du Champ-de-Mars
General contractor: Peter Lyall
1912: Construction began.
1913: Construction completed
January, 1914: This building opens to the public.
1957: Construction began on the adjacent police headquarters
1960: Police headquarters construction was completed.
1961-1963: The interior of this building is gutted and unified with the new police building.
