Édifice Marie-Guyart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Édifice Marie-Guyart |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Architectural style | Brutalist |
| Location | 675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1R 5X9 |
| Coordinates | 46°48′29″N 71°13′02″W / 46.808056°N 71.217222°W |
| Completed | 1972 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 176.5 m (579 ft) |
| Roof | 132 m (433 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 31 |
The Édifice Marie-Guyart is a very tall office building in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It has 31 floors and stands 132 m (433 ft) (about 433 feet) high. This building was finished in 1972.
It used to be, and is still often, called Complexe G. It is built in a style called Brutalist, which uses a lot of concrete and has a strong, blocky look. The Édifice Marie-Guyart is the tallest building in Quebec City. It is also the tallest building in Canada located east of Montreal.
You can find this building in the Parliament Hill area. It holds important government offices, like the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports. It also has a special observation deck called the Observatoire de la Capitale, where visitors can enjoy amazing views.
Contents
History of the Édifice Marie-Guyart
Why the Building Was Needed
In the 1960s, the government of Quebec grew a lot. This period was known as the Quiet Revolution. Because the government was expanding, it needed much more office space in downtown Quebec City.
The "Complexe G" Plan
To solve the problem, a group called the "Quebec Planning Commission" was created in 1961. In 1963, they came up with a big plan for the area around the Hôtel du Parlement. The different buildings in this plan were given letters as names. That's how the name "Complexe G" came about.
The first idea for "Complexe G" in 1965 included four tall towers. These towers would have been between 22 and 25 floors high. This original plan would have created a lot more office space than what was finally built.
Building Construction and Changes
In 1969, the plan for "Complexe G" was changed. It was decided to build the current tower, which is the Édifice Marie-Guyart. There were also plans for two other towers next to it, but these were never built.
The old buildings on the site were bought and taken down to make way for the new construction. Work on the current tower began in 1967 and was completed five years later, in 1972.
Renaming the Tower
In 1987, the tower was given a new official name: "Édifice Marie-Guyart". This name honors Saint Marie of the Incarnation. She was a very important nun who founded the Ursuline order in New France (which is now Quebec) a long time ago.
Observatoire de la Capitale
Enjoying the View from the Top
On the very top floor of the Édifice Marie-Guyart, you'll find the Observatoire de la Capitale. This is a special observation deck that gives you a full 360-degree view of Quebec City. It's located 221 meters (about 725 feet) above the ground!
From here, visitors can see many famous landmarks. You can spot the historic Citadelle de Québec and the grand Château Frontenac. You can also see the beautiful countryside all around Quebec City. It's a great place to get a bird's-eye view of the city!
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