Founded in 1994 by Claude Cormier, CCxA (formerly Claude Cormier + Associés) is a landscape architecture and urban design firm internationally recognized for its unique practice developed over nearly 30 years in the creation of meaningful urban spaces. The firm is rooted in an innovative approach and a singular spirit, a characteristic touch marked by humor, hope, beauty, optimism, dedication and rigour.
CCxA works on large-scale projects across North America and has received more than 100 awards. Serious Fun, The Landscapes of Claude Cormier, the first book entirely dedicated to the firm’s work, written by authors Marc Treib and Susan Herrington, was published by ORO in 2021.
CCxA thrives on participating in complex urban projects that require critical and innovative design solutions. The firm seeks to transcend the public experience and transform spaces of civic life by combining beauty, ecology and a priority for community. Landscape architecture is approached through a high degree of conceptual rigour and solid technical know-how, allowing the firm to imagine new, meaningful and sustainable solutions grounded by an in-depth knowledge of context and landscape phenomena. Pragmatic yet playful, the firm celebrates creativity as a bold hybrid between real and surreal, resulting in beloved moments of the public realm that have continued to endure.
Artwork description
The Ring, commissioned by Ivanhoé Cambridge, is a customized art installation and a one-of-a-kind reflection of the symbolic importance of Place Ville Marie, an icon of Montreal’s modernity. The suspended metal ring is a site-specific installation that conveys monumentality and humility. It highlights a unique visual perspective where the McGill University campus, the architecture of the Victoria Hospital, the steep slope of Mount Royal, and the Mount Royal Cross follow one another. The Ring frames this axis of strength and contributes to the physical, symbolic, and functional articulation of Place Ville Marie pole, which marked the birth of the modern city.
This artistic installation reinforces the timeless character of the whole of Place Ville Marie through a gesture of great sobriety, of an elegance that gives a dimension of durability. The Ring is a unifying project, a new element of the Montréalité, a proof of love for Place Ville Marie, downtown Montreal and Mount Royal.
The Ring was designed by CCxA and manufactured in Quebec by Marmen in collaboration with consulting engineers NCK inc., Claude Bernard (Formaviva Inc.), Gilles Arpin (EP Éclairage Public), Stantec, Cohésio Architecture, JCB Construction Canada, Bendtec, and Patrice Blain.
With this art installation, Ivanhoé Cambridge is helping shape living spaces in ways that create value for its communities. The installation symbolizes the strong connection between Montreal, its citizens and its visitors.