CENTECH / OLD DOW PLANETARIUM

The Dow planetarium is an example of a Jean Drapeau-era building that was part of the development craze that took over the city of Montréal in the sixties. It was endowed by the Dow Breweries company in preparation for the Expo 67 events. This iconic building, known as the largest French-language planetarium in North America since its opening in 1966, operated for decades until it was closed in 2011 and replaced a few years later by Centech, a non-profit tech incubator that belongs to ÉTS, a Quebec-based engineering school. Located at Chaboillez square, a few blocks south of Bonaventure métro station, this public planetarium is also an instance of a concrete-laden 60s-era site that was repurposed in order to serve current urban needs. Its public vocation for the pursuit of scientific knowledge was carried forward as a postmodern meeting space for students, engineers, and scientists. In keeping with the original astronomy-oriented structure of the building, the site remodeled its interior with glass doors and kept the curvy and round structures as a reminder of planets and celestial bodies. As we enter the building, we can witness an interesting contrast between the old white marble ceiling and concrete pillars on the one hand, and the technology-oriented vibe of Centech on the other. The dome, which was repurposed into a conference space, was left intact. Echoes of voices from one end of the dome to the other reverberate above our heads. As we browse through this space, we are able to experience its evolution throughout time. From a parking lot to a planetarium and a tech startup company, the old planetarium building is not only a project that democratized science education, it is also a testimony of a successful urban project that was able to keep up with the requirements of the present while leaving room for past legacies to persist into the future.