Canadian Centre for Architecture facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Canadian Centre for Architecture

Centre canadien d'architecture
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Established	1979
Location	1920, rue Baile Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Type	Architecture museum
Visitors	67,666 (2011)
Public transit access	at Guy-Concordia station at Georges-Vanier station

The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) is a special museum and research place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It focuses on architecture, which is the art and science of designing buildings.

You can find the CCA at 1920, rue Baile, in the Shaughnessy Village area of Montreal. It has a huge library and many historical items. The CCA also hosts different exhibits all year round.

This center is a great place to learn about buildings and design. It offers educational programs and fun activities for everyone. Phyllis Lambert is the person who started the CCA.

What is the CCA's Story?

The CCA was created in 1979 by Phyllis Lambert, an architect from Montreal. Her main goal was to help people understand how important architecture is in our lives. She also wanted to encourage new ideas in building design and support research.

The main building of the CCA was designed and built between 1985 and 1989. The architect was Peter Rose. The design includes a very old house called the Shaughnessy House. Phyllis Lambert bought this house in 1974 to save it from being torn down.

The CCA has won important awards for its design. These include the Honor Award for Architecture in 1992. It also received the Governor General's Medals in Architecture.

What Does the CCA Building Look Like?

The historic Shaughnessy House, built in 1874, is part of the CCA.

The CCA building opened in 1989. It was designed by Peter Rose, working with Phyllis Lambert and Erol Argun. The modern building actually wraps around the historic Shaughnessy House.

The Shaughnessy House was built in 1874. It is one of the few old mansions in Montreal that the public can visit. The CCA building itself is quite large, about 12,000 square meters.

Inside the CCA, you will find exhibit halls and a theater. There is also a bookstore, a library, and a study center. The building combines old and new styles. It uses traditional grey Montreal limestone with modern aluminum.

The landscapes around the CCA are also special. This includes the CCA sculpture garden, which is across the street. The Shaughnessy House was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1973.

What Can You See at the CCA?

The CCA has one of the biggest collections of books and items about buildings. It also has things related to industrial design, which is about designing everyday products.

Some special parts of the collection include:

• Architectural games for children.
• Information about world exhibitions and their buildings.
• Works by famous architects like Peter Eisenman and James Stirling.

The center often puts on new shows. These shows come from their own research or from other museums. The CCA also offers tours and educational programs especially for children.

The research library at the CCA is open to the public. You can visit it by making an appointment.

Sculpture Garden

Melvin Charney's sculpture garden, located across from the CCA.

A CCA display in Montreal's Underground City.

Across from the main CCA building, you'll find a unique sculpture garden. It was designed by Melvin Charney. This garden is like a park, even though it's in a busy area.

The park has many sculptures that show different ideas about architecture. One sculpture is a ghost-like copy of the bottom part of the Shaughnessy House. There are also modern sculptures and structures. You can see architectural items and furniture placed on pedestals.

Affiliations

The Museum is connected with: CMA, CHIN, and Virtual Museum of Canada.

See also

In Spanish: Centro Canadiense de Arquitectura para niños