The second permanent accommodation
(1975)
By the
early 70s, the number of delegates of States attending the regular triennial
Assemblies was outstripping the capabilities of almost all major convention
centres in the world; costs of holding Assemblies with full services in four
languages, including multiple and simultaneous meetings, had become
prohibitively high. In addition, the ICAO building (at 1080 University Street)
presented inadequate rooms in number and size to accommodate major technical
meetings held in Montreal. The implications of various financing and management
alternatives of a new Headquarters building, i.e. wet-lease (with rental and
all building services included), lease purchase and complete ownership, had been
considered at that time by the Organization; a pure lease arrangement had
appeared to offer definitive advantages and seemed to be the only practicable
option taking into account the Canadian Government subsidy.
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Commercial cover sent to
ICAO 1000 Sherbrooke Street
West, Montreal |
Thus,
Canadian Government authorities sought to construct new facilities specially
conceived for the Organization on the prestigious Sherbrooke Street (at 1000
Sherbrooke Street West), facing the McGill University campus and overlooking
Mount Royal, which were ready for occupation by mid-1975. The construction
proposal was known as the Schreiber project; in addition to the importance of
the architectural concept, a factor which would contribute to ICAO’s identity,
general quality, interior space layout especially with regard to the Conference
facilities, it was selected due to the desire for a downtown location easily
accessible by every means of transportation and within easy walking distance of
major hotels. The award-winning 27-storey building (including a five level base
structure) was designed by a firm led by Montreal’s Architect André Vecsi; ICAO
initially occupied fifteen floors of the building, as well as the whole
conference complex adjacent to it to the rear. The new Assembly facilities
could accommodate 600 people and the total space rented was 220,000 square
feet. Contributions from Contracting States, typical of their arts and natural
treasurers, were sought for the furnishing and decoration of the new building, which
was officially inaugurated on 3 October 1975.
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Postcard showing Montreal downtown and
ICAO Headquarters located at 1000
Sherbrooke Street West, facing McGill University |
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