Place Ville Marie 50th Anniversary Quiz

1.

Which bank was the lead tenant of Place Ville Marie's office building? (Photo by Marcos Townsend, The Gazette)

Bank of Montreal

Scotiabank

Royal Bank of Canada

The correct answer is Royal Bank of Canada. Place Ville Marie's office building had Royal Bank of Canada as its lead tenant.

Explanation

The correct answer is Royal Bank of Canada. Place Ville Marie's office building had Royal Bank of Canada as its lead tenant.

2.

Who designed PVM? (Photo by Norma Gomez)

Pei, Cobb, Freed & Partners. Henry N. Cobb designed the IMF HQ in Washington.

Fumihiki Maki, one of the few Japanese architects of his time to have worked and studied in the West.

Moshe Safdie, the genius behind Habitat 67.

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Explanation

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3.

By what name do Montrealers fondly refer to Place Ville Marie?

The Mother of Underground Shopping.

La Grande Soeur de grate-ciel.

La Grande Dame de Montréal.

Montrealers fondly refer to Place Ville Marie as "La Grande Dame de Montréal" because it is a prominent landmark in the city and holds historical significance. The term "La Grande Dame" translates to "The Great Lady" in English, which symbolizes the grandeur and elegance of the building. This nickname highlights the importance and admiration that Montrealers have for Place Ville Marie, considering it as a symbol of the city's identity and pride.

Explanation

Montrealers fondly refer to Place Ville Marie as "La Grande Dame de Montréal" because it is a prominent landmark in the city and holds historical significance. The term "La Grande Dame" translates to "The Great Lady" in English, which symbolizes the grandeur and elegance of the building. This nickname highlights the importance and admiration that Montrealers have for Place Ville Marie, considering it as a symbol of the city's identity and pride.

4.

When PVM opened, it made history as a pioneer of underground shopping and was the start of Montreal's 33 kilometres of subterranean passageways. It was also:

Canada’s tallest building.

The first building to be constructed above a train station.

The first building to feature a revolving spotlight.

PVM, when it opened, became Canada's tallest building. This means that it was the tallest building in the country at that time.

Explanation

PVM, when it opened, became Canada's tallest building. This means that it was the tallest building in the country at that time.

5.

What company currently owns Place Ville Marie? (Photo by Tim Snow)

Brookfield Real Estate

Ivanhoe Cambridge Group

Oxford Properties Group

Ivanhoe Cambridge Group is the correct answer because they currently own Place Ville Marie.

Explanation

Ivanhoe Cambridge Group is the correct answer because they currently own Place Ville Marie.

6.

Which of these popular Montreal retailers had a store in the PVM promenade on opening day? (Photo by Phil Carpenter, The Gazette)

Stokes

Le Château

Brown's Shoes

Brown's Shoes had a store in the PVM promenade on opening day.

Explanation

Brown's Shoes had a store in the PVM promenade on opening day.

7.

How often does the iconic PVM spotlight flash over your home? (Photo by John Kenney, The Gazette)

About 10 seconds. Seems like a strobe light.

It takes 32 seconds to go full circle.

It's perfectly calculated to take one minute.

The correct answer is that it takes 32 seconds for the iconic PVM spotlight to go full circle. This means that the spotlight will flash over your home approximately every 32 seconds.

Explanation

The correct answer is that it takes 32 seconds for the iconic PVM spotlight to go full circle. This means that the spotlight will flash over your home approximately every 32 seconds.

8.

The fastest person to climb the stairs to the top of PVM did it in 8 minutes, 11 seconds. Who was he? (Photo by Marie-France Coallier, The Gazette)

A firefighter.

An Olympic sprinter.

A local police officer.

The correct answer is a firefighter because firefighters are known for their physical strength and endurance. Climbing stairs to the top of a building requires both speed and stamina, which are qualities that firefighters possess due to their rigorous training and job requirements. Additionally, firefighters often need to quickly ascend tall buildings in emergency situations, making them the most likely candidates to achieve the fastest time in climbing the stairs to the top of PVM.

Explanation

The correct answer is a firefighter because firefighters are known for their physical strength and endurance. Climbing stairs to the top of a building requires both speed and stamina, which are qualities that firefighters possess due to their rigorous training and job requirements. Additionally, firefighters often need to quickly ascend tall buildings in emergency situations, making them the most likely candidates to achieve the fastest time in climbing the stairs to the top of PVM.

9.

Including the underground levels and the floors used for entertainment at the top, the cruciform office building at PVM was how many storeys high when the project opened? (Photo by Marcos Townsend)

42

44

47

The cruciform office building at PVM was 47 storeys high when the project opened. This includes the underground levels and the floors used for entertainment at the top.

Explanation

The cruciform office building at PVM was 47 storeys high when the project opened. This includes the underground levels and the floors used for entertainment at the top.

10.

What was the name of one of the seven original restaurants at Place Ville Marie? (Photo by Tedd Church, The Gazette)

Bluenose Dun

The Redfin

Café de la Ville

Bluenose Dun was one of the seven original restaurants at Place Ville Marie.

Explanation

Bluenose Dun was one of the seven original restaurants at Place Ville Marie.