Urban and climatic environment
The Notre-Dame Basilica, facing Place d’Armes square in historic Old Montréal, is surrounded by office buildings, some of impressive heights, like the National Bank office and the Aldred Building. The Jardin des Sulpiciens, a vast green space, is located on the southwest side. To the south and west, low buildings create a wide opening leading down to the Saint-Lawrence River. The basilica and chapel cover a large surface area, 4,280 m² (more or less 46,100 sq. ft.). The buildings have a vast metal gable roof covered in copper sheets.
The site's singularity
The basilica’s immediate environment has the following characteristics, which must be taken into consideration when analyzing deterioration of the structures:
• Western façade that is very exposed to dominant winds and bad weather;
• Southern façade of Notre-Dame’s chevet (apse) that gets a lot of sun exposure;
• Eastern façade that only receives sun in the early morning;
• Northern façade that is in the shade and subject to wind turbulence unique to the Place d’Armes sector
Work planned
Extensive masonry work is planned on the main, western, eastern and southern façades of in the next few years, in addition to joist and waterproofing work. The bell towers also need major masonry work. Finally, the Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur chapel’s east façade and roof need work.
