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MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Opening of Second Elevator at Saint Joseph’s Oratory
From the Crypt to the Basilica, all levels are now accessible
Montreal, October 28, 2008 – The official opening of a second elevator enables Saint Joseph’s Oratory to achieve another important step in its efforts to make its exceptional, yet somewhat steep, site even more accessible! This new boldly designed elevator now links the site’s highest levels visited daily by pilgrims and guests, specifically the three floors where Brother André’s heart, the Oratory Museum and Basilica are found.
A unique design at the heart of the Oratory
The new elevator, designed by Montreal architect Paul de Guire, was integrated into the western stairwell. Its bold design offers a myriad of sensory perceptions through the incorporation of glass panels stained with eleven distinct colors, resembling the Oratory’s own stained glass windows.
The combination of colours varies from one floor to another, with each one representing a specific area. Indeed, each floor features a dominant color to help identify that specific area. Visitors can therefore discover this wondrous, colour-changing, three-dimensional mosaic by using either the stairs encircling the elevator or by taking the elevator itself, which is encased in translucent glass.
“The two million-odd visitors and pilgrims who journey to the Oratory each year, particularly those with mobility impairments and families with strollers, can now enjoy easy access to the entire site, including the Basilica,” said the Rector, Father Claude Grou, CSC. “This addition not only makes the site more accessible, but also adds a unique atmosphere to the Oratory.”
This event was underscored by an official ceremony attended by several representatives of social, municipal and church organisations. The elevator’s construction, representing a $2.2 million investment, was made possible partly through a generous contribution from the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, which covered 25% of the costs. The general public and Quebec-based organisations were also solicited through the Great Bee.
Completed as part of a major site restoration project begun in 2002, this second elevator will be used alongside the first, which opened in 2007, and that links the Votive Chapel, the Concourse (Salle des pas perdus) and the level where the Blessed Brother André’s heart is located.
Design: Ouellet architectes
Structural engineering: Calculatec
Construction: AECON
Architectural glass: Walker Glass Company Ltd.
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Note to editors: A photo taken during the event can be found on Marketwire and photos of the new elevator are available upon request.
For further information and interview requests:
Elaine Mayrand Danielle Decelles
Massy-Forget Public Relations Saint-Joseph’s Oratory of Mount-Royal
Tel.: 514-842-2455, extension 24 Tel.: 514- 733-8216, extension 2711
Cell.: 514-718-2124 Cell.: 514-264-1764
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