The Ring is a customized installation and one-of-a-kind reflection of the symbolic importance of Place-Ville-Marie (PVM), the birthplace of Montreal's architectural modernity. The 30m diameter suspended metal ring is a site-specific installation that conveys monumentality and humility. Framing the iconic view along McGill College Avenue, towards the gates of McGill University, Mount Royal, and its signature summit cross, The Ring reinforces the architectural composition and timelessness of PVM. Taking landscape architecture out of its comfort zone, it incorporates the touchstones of our profession – connectivity, placemaking and social triangulation, while also embracing new challenges that integrate bold engineering, rigorous coordination and risk assessment, unexpected considerations for public safety and structural integration with existing architecture.
The project team engaged now 83-year-old Franz Knoll, the same structural world-renowned engineer who worked on the original PVM design, to bring his knowledge of the site and sense of structural nuance regarding the existing buildings to the project. The project commemorates the 60th anniversary of Montreal’s modernist transformation, and symbolizes the strong connection between the city, its citizens and its visitors. As a metropolitan denominator, The Ring elevates a sense of belonging where everyone is made to feel “Montrealais.”
