McGill station

McGill station in its former colors of green and burgundy, changed in 2010.

McGill station during rush hour.

Designed by Crevier, Lemieux, Mercier and Caron, it is a normal side platform station built in open cut under boul. De Maisonneuve, with two ticket halls joined by corridors that surround the platforms. The ticket halls are linked to the platforms by four stairways per platform, including the shortest escalators in the network. The station has large pillars, which were originally painted orange, but painted in beer bottle green color in the late 1990s. In January 2010 the STM repainted the station in its original colors being orange pillars and yellow walls.

As an important part of the underground city, the station has had its mezzanine level substantially enlarged since its opening, by construction of new buildings around the station: the western end of the mezzanine was added with the construction of the Tour BNP and Eaton Centre, while the southern corridor between the ticket halls was added to link the Promenades de la Cathédrale (now known as Promenades Cathédrale) with the station.

McGill station concourse.(The previous green coloured pillars can be seen in the background)

No fewer than six buildings are directly connected to the station via underground city, and one, the Eaton Centre, has an entrance directly on the Honoré-Beaugrand platform. (Another access to 2020 de Maisonneuve from the Angrignon platform has been closed.) The station has a further six direct street-level entrances, all of which are integrated into the façades of other buildings.

Among this busy station's amenities include several shops and services directly in the station, including a Tim Hortons, Second Cup, Carlton Cards, a Scotiabank, two Pizza Shops, a web terminal, and MétroVision information screens which displays news, commercials, and the time till the next train. This was second station after Berri-UQAM to have them installed. At one time an "open-concept" branch of the Montreal public library was located next to the exit onto rue Université.

The station has 6 entrances:

690, De Maisonneuve Ouest

640, boul. de Maisonneuve ouest

811, boul. de Maisonneuve ouest

2055, rue University

2021, av. Union

1445, av. Union

The images of Montreal's first two mayors, Jacques Viger and Peter McGill, in stained glass. The image of Peter McGill is sometimes mistakenly believed to be James McGill, the founder of the nearby university

This station contains several pieces of art. The most prominent is Nicolas Sollogoub's Montreal Scenes Circa 1830, depicting the industrial era in the city as well as its early mayors and civic arms. This set of five stained-glass murals was donated by Macdonald Tobacco. Maurice Savoie created a set of terra cotta murals depicting fruit and flowers, surrounding the entrance to Eaton's (now the Complexe Les Ailes). The construction of the Promenades de la Cathédrale in 1992 brought two new works of art, a light sculpture called Passūs by Murray MacDonald, and an installation of an aerial view of Montreal complete with miniature figures of the buildings, by art collective Les Industries perdues. The latter work is entitled To rise, we must push against the ground onto which we have fallen.

Finally, a tapestry by Kelvin McAvoy depicting the life of James McGill was donated by Canadian Universal Limited Insurance in 1969; however, after being vandalized, it was removed by the company for restoration, and then given as a perpetual loan to McGill University instead, where it is now exhibited at the McLennan Library.

McGill is named for McGill University. Founded in 1821 with money and on land bequeathed by Scottish-Canadian businessman James McGill, this is one of Canada's most prestigious institutions of higher education.

In March 2012, the station underwent renovation work that included the replacement of Travertine tiles covering surfaces of the whole station, spanning over 1,835 square meters. Other work included replacing the lighting system, fixing columns, beams, and concrete slabs and replacing granite staircases and handrails. The work was to be completed by March 2013. More recently (end of 2016), modernized signage has been put in place, flooring has been completely replaced and the stained glass installation underwent a restoration and was put back in place.[4]

The Mount Royal Tunnel, which currently carries the Deux-Montagnes commuter rail line, passes near the station. The Réseau express métropolitain project, which will convert the line to light metro operation, will connect with the Green Line via a station built under the current Metro station.[5]

Media related to McGill (Montreal Metro) at Wikimedia Commons

Wikinews has related news: Loss of integrity in underground city tunnel causes evacuation of Downtown Montreal

• McGill Station - official site
• Montreal by Metro, metrodemontreal.com - photos, information, and trivia
• 2011 STM System Map
• 2011 Downtown System Map
• Metro Map