1250 René-Lévesque

1250 René-Lévesque, formerly known as the "IBM-Marathon Tower," is Montreal, Canada's second-tallest skyscraper, with a roof height of 199 meters (without its spire), and a total height of 226.5 meters including the spire. The height definition follows the city’s National Building Code, which excludes decorative spires, whereas the international Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) includes it, making it Montreal’s tallest building. This 47-story skyscraper was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and completed in 1992. It was constructed between 1988 and 1992 as a project led by IBM and Marathon Realty with an investment of $250 million to consolidate IBM’s operations in Montreal, relocating 1,000 employees from Place Ville Marie. The building’s location in downtown Montreal serves as a visual boundary between the commercial center and the historically residential west side, a concept inspired by KPF’s Westend Tower in Frankfurt, Germany. It is located next to Bell Centre and Windsor Station, and is connected to the Bonaventure metro station and Montreal’s Underground City.

The building’s architecture combines postmodern and neo-modern styles. Its east and west facades differ distinctly: the west facade is a granite-clad wall with square windows and irregular setbacks, facing the residential periphery, while the east facade features a curved glass curtain wall facing the city center, giving a light, suspended effect. A spire extends along the building’s north side, reaching 31 meters beyond the rooftop, aligning with Mount Royal's peak elevation. Inside, a four-story atrium with a bamboo winter garden, food court, and conference rooms creates a welcoming space. The building connects to Montreal’s Underground City and Bonaventure metro station.

Building data from Wikidata (CC0); heights normalised. Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).