For CN, New Montréal Headquarters
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
A rendering of CN's new headquarters building as of 2028, to be located at 600 De La Gauchetière West in downtown Montréal, Québec, Canada. (Rendering Courtesy of CN)
CN on May 9 reported signing a 20-year lease to relocate its headquarters to 600 De La Gauchetière West in downtown Montréal, Québec, Canada. While the lease begins in 2028, the Canadian Class I said it will start moving certain departments there as of 2026.
“CN has been part of downtown Montréal’s DNA for over 100 years,” said Ghislain Houle, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CN, which is currently headquartered at 935 de La Gauchetière Street West in Montréal. “Maintaining our headquarters’ presence in the city’s core is integral to our identity. Our employees are our greatest competitive advantage, and we were careful in choosing our new headquarters. We want to keep inspiring greater innovation and collaboration in a workplace that will nurture our employees’ growth.”
According to CN, the lease covers the Kevric Real Estate Corporation building’s first 18 floors, totaling more than 440,000 square feet. The railroad will join existing tenants Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, Logistec and Alten Canada, bringing the office tower’s occupancy rate to more than 80%.
600 DLG is located in the Quartier International de Montréal. The building, north of Square Victoria, will feature the CN logo, and a “new name” that the railroad said it would select.
“The complete redevelopment of the tower [by Kevric] will provide a next-generation work environment to its occupants,” CN reported. “Its building envelope is being entirely replaced to feature larger windows and a new architectural signature. This will provide the floors with panoramic views, more natural light and better energy efficiency. The integration of touchless access technologies, motion-sensing lighting controls and automated window shades will ensure the state-of-the-art workspaces allow organizations and their teams to focus on exceeding their business objectives, developing innovative new opportunities and nurturing their corporate culture.
“The new main entrance, under construction at the De La Gauchetière W. and Beaver-Hall intersection, will be integrated with a modernized Square-Victoria entrance to reconnect the tower with the surrounding area. Forming a new architectural atrium, these entrances will add to 600 DLG’s unparalleled connectivity, which includes direct interior access to the Square Victoria – OACI metro station and to Montréal’s underground pedestrian network (RESO), frontage on the Express Bike Network (EBN), proximity to the REM’s Gare Centrale station, and fluid connections to downtown’s main traffic arteries.”
“We are proud to welcome CN’s head office at 600 DLG,” Kevric President and Founder Richard Hylands said. “This commitment by such a large organization confirms the importance of efficient, central work environments for corporations. We firmly believe in the crucial role of high-quality downtown office buildings in sustaining downtown Montreal’s role as an economic engine. 600 DLG is the latest example of this conviction, and its transformation showcases our proven expertise in executing complex and visionary projects.”
