Groupe Montoni and the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ have launched construction of the first phase of their $325-million Écoparc Laval 15 industrial campus in the Greater Montreal city.

The campus is to comprise five buildings when complete, offering a total of 1,067,000 square feet of new, modern industrial space. All are to be constructed to meet LEED Silver as well as BCZ Design and Performance certifications, ensuring a high level of sustainability.

“This project will restore a strategic location – the former site of the Ciné-parc Laval drive-in – to its full potential, transforming it into a driver of sustainable and economic development,” Montoni president Dario Montoni said in the announcement Tuesday morning. “Since our founding 30 years ago, we have developed more than 80 projects in Laval, representing investments of more than $1.5 billion.

"We are proud to continue our contributions to our city’s economic expansion.”

Located at the junction of highways 15 and 440, Écoparc Laval 15 is the latest in a new generation of  Écoparc industrial campuses being developed to offer “environmental performance, innovation and user wellness” according to Groupe Montoni.

Écoparc Laval 15 details, sustainable features

Building 1 will have a floor area of 257,000 square feet and is slated for delivery in May 2026. It is the first step in a project that is to be rolled out in four phases, with build-out completed in 2027. Building 1 will accommodate up to five tenants and offer the following environmental benefits, among others:

• an approximately 40 per cent reduction in water consumption;
• energy savings estimated at 60 per cent;
• a decrease in greenhouse-gas emissions of up to 50 per cent;
• 130 rooftop solar panels to meet nearly five per cent of the building’s energy needs;
• a white roof to mitigate the urban heat island effect; and
• low-emission materials to ensure optimum air quality.

Ground was officially broken at the site on Monday night during a multi-media presentation on the former drive-in movie screen. Invitees were treated to a vintage atmosphere at the property, including antique vehicles and food trucks.

“The start of work on this first industrial building is a decisive step in the development of this project, initiated two years ago as part of our strategic partnership with Montoni,” Fonds president and CEO Martin Raymond said in the announcement. “This milestone illustrates our joint commitment toward sustainable economic development, to be achieved using modern, flexible and ideally located infrastructures. With its optimized access to the main transportation corridors, this site will be a driver of growth for manufacturers seeking high-performance logistics solutions. 

“Today, we are proud to be laying the cornerstone for an innovative industrial ecosystem that will enhance competitiveness and advance the transition to a greener economy.”

RENX has requested information about whether any tenants are committed to the building, or whether it is being constructed on spec. Montoni has yet to reply.

One distinguishing feature of Écoparc Laval 15 is to be its integration of natural features, with over 30 per cent of its total surface area be dedicated to green spaces. This includes a protected wetland covering over 400,000 square feet, which will be accessible to the public.

About Montoni and Fonds FTQ

Laval-based Montoni has completed more than 700 projects representing over 30 million square feet of industrial, commercial, institutional and residential construction, and 30 corporate campuses. The firm has another 25 million square feet under development at properties across Québec, Ontario and New Brunswick.

Among Montoni’s current major projects are: the future Quartier Molson in Montréal which is ultimately to deliver six million square feet of development; the Épicentre-Culturel in Laval, the largest cultural project in Québec; and the agreement to develop a two-million-square-foot sustainable industrial park in Dieppe, N.B.

Montoni has committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. It has obtained LEED certification for 52 projects since 2006, representing a total of 7.3 million square feet, and Zero-Carbon Building (ZCB) certification for three projects totalling two million square feet. 

In the coming years, the company is aiming for LEED and ZCB certification for projects totaling 11.2 million square feet.

The Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ drives economic growth and employment in Québec by investing in real estate projects in partnership with other industry players. The Fonds backs projects in the residential, office, retail, institutional and industrial sectors espousing a sustainable development approach. 

As at June 30, it had 26 projects worth $4.1 billion in development or construction; 84 properties totalling 6,412 residential rental units under management; and five million square feet of industrial land for development.