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AZ Awards 2026 People's Choice: Saint Joseph's Oratory

The famed Renaissance revival basilica of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal has received a contemporary addition 121 years after its founding. Rather than compete with the existing architecture, Lemay designed a welcome pavilion and translucent bell tower that recede into the landscape. The two million tourists who make the pilgrimage annually now enter through a reception area sculpted directly into the hillside and ascend to the oratory via escalator past walls clad in stone drawn from the excavation itself. On the way, they can view the site’s original carillon behind the bell tower’s glass, which is etched with abstract musical notation — a nod to the venue’s schedule of choral performances.

AZ Awards 2026 People's Choice: Saint Joseph's Oratory

Team: Yanick Casault, Pierre E. Leclerc, Andrew King, Ricardo Serrano, Ramzi Bosha, Myriam Perreault, Éric St-Pierre, Sammy Camacho, Nadine Chartouni, Chloé Lavoie, Karen Piché, Mathieu Cloutier, James Sunderland, Marianne Yanni, Alexandre Di Bartolo, Hugo Lafrance, Jean-Pierre Tamine (Lemay); BPA; ELEMA experts-conseils; MHA; Version Paysage; KJA; Patrick Macoska; Pomerleau

People’s Choice: Adaptive Re-Use
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal Welcome Pavilion
A new entrance to Montreal's historic basilica grants easier access — and makes the carillon the main star.

Explore more Award Winners

2023
WinnerAdaptive Re-Use
Award of MeritEnvironmental Leadership
Location
Sydney, Australia
Firms
3XN (Copenhagen, Denmark) with BVN (Sydney, Australia) and Multiplex (Australia)
2024
WinnerUrban Design Built Developments
Award of MeritAdaptive Re-Use
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Firm
5468796 Architecture, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2019
Award of MeritAdaptive Re-Use
Location
Tilburg, the Netherlands
Firms
Civic Architects (the Netherlands), Braaksma & Roos Architectenbureau (the Netherlands), Inside Outside (the Netherlands) and Mecanoo (the Netherlands)