Cain Lamarre’s new Montreal (Canada) offices, crafted by Sid Lee Architecture, reimagine the law office as a vibrant, people-centered environment within the city’s Golden Square Mile. Relocating to a heritage building, the firm reinforces its commitment to human-scale values, offering its team a workspace that balances tradition and innovation. The design draws from hospitality concepts, replacing formality with warmth and openness, while supporting the nuanced demands of legal practice, confidentiality, collaboration, and flexibility.
More Impressive Interior Design
Sid Lee Architecture, an affiliate of Sid Lee creative agency, was founded by Jean Pelland and Martin Leblanc, who have led a multidisciplinary team since 1999. The practice brings together expertise in urban planning, architecture, and interior design, and has been a member of the kyu collective since 2015. Cain Lamarre new opening is their latest project, discover more of it below:
Reception and Café: Welcoming Urban Square
Stepping inside, visitors are greeted by a reception and café that immediately set a tranquil tone, contrasting the city’s bustle outside. A suspended felt installation references the building’s original architecture, paired with white-painted exposed concrete that nods to its heritage. The café, adjacent to a dramatic double-height staircase, opens to city views and acts as a lively hub for conversation. An island-like sofa in the lounge area fosters both intimacy and easy flow, embodying the spirit of an urban square, open, communal, and anchored in Cain Lamarre’s core values of integrity and trust.
The Monumental Staircase: Circulation and Connection
The office’s signature feature, a monumental staircase, organizes movement between two floors and becomes the project’s central gathering point. Its soft ecru metal finish and Quebec maple steps introduce a refined, contemporary feel, while the double-height space amplifies natural light. The expanded landing, overlooking an interior garden, offers a peaceful pause and a place for informal exchange. Perforated guardrails and fluted-glass lighting animate the ascent, making the staircase both a visual anchor and a symbol of collective life within the firm.
Cafeteria: Immersive and Adaptable
Set slightly apart from the main flow, the cafeteria envelops occupants in a dried-amaranth palette applied across cabinetry, ceiling, and lighting. Textured porcelain tiles evoke Art Deco influences, adding a layer of sophistication. A large communal table anchors the space, surrounded by flexible seating options, high tables, bistro tables, and lounge chairs, accommodating everyday meals and special gatherings alike. The cafeteria seamlessly connects to the agora at the staircase’s base, supporting spontaneous interaction and larger events.
Periphery and Private Zones: Quiet Transitions
Encircling the central open spaces, enclosed offices and full-height meeting rooms transition toward quieter, private areas. Rounded islands echo the staircase’s ecru tones, extending beneath lowered ceilings into custom partitions that maintain spatial continuity. Variations in volume and height create dynamic sightlines and a sense of openness, while elongated decorative handles on glass doors subtly reference the building’s Art Deco heritage.
Materiality, Light, and Flexibility
Throughout, authentic materials and abundant daylight define the experience. The design’s attention to both professional needs and collective well-being earned the project Gold at the Grands Prix du design. Space planning prioritized future growth and adaptability, with input from a diverse committee within the firm, ensuring the result supports knowledge sharing and evolving ways of working.
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Project Credits
Client: Cain Lamarre
Architect: Sid Lee Architecture – sidleearchitecture.com
Contractor: JCB
Project Management: Avison Young
Engineering: Grenier expert conseil
Base Building / Developers: Brasswater
Lighting: EDP
Architectural Partitions: Teknion / Groupe Focus
Millwork: RCM
Staircase: Forges Urbaines
Furniture: Herman Miller, Sancal, Muuto, Hay, Pedrali, Knoll, Design Within Reach, BRC Group
Decorative Rugs: Catalog Three
Commercial Carpet: Shaw Contract
Artworks: Canada Council Art Bank
Photography: Alex Lesage
