The Deloitte Tower is the first building completed in the redevelopment of Windsor Square, a southward expansion of the downtown core of Montreal.  This 26 floor, 500,000 square foot office tower received LEED Platinum certification, the first building in Montreal to achieve this status, thanks to its forward thinking design concepts.

Like many large cities Montreal has a clear vision for maintaining and developing an aesthetically pleasing look to its skyline and the Deloitte tower contributes to this goal with a design that conceals all of the unsightly mechanical systems found on the roof.  The visual presence of the building is highlighted by dramatically sloped roof lines yet concealed beneath is a traditional low cost flat roof on which sits all of the unsightly but necessary mechanical systems like HVAC and exterior maintenance access systems. 

This illusion is made possible by a 450 ton false roof structure constructed entirely of hot-dip galvanized steel.  With the harsh humid winter weather of Montreal combined with corrosive water vapors and heating exhaust this structure needed to stand the test of time with the least possible maintenance.  Galvanized steel was the logical solution with long lasting corrosion protection for both the interior and exterior of the tubular components.  Also the exceptional impact resistance and self-healing abilities of galvanized steel meant that any coating damage occurring during construction or during later maintenance work on the contained systems would be minimal and not require dangerous and expensive repairs.

The Deloitte tower is symbolic of a new generation of buildings that are environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing while still providing cost effective space for tenants.  Hot-dip galvanizing with its low initial cost and superior durability and longevity is a natural element for these new thinking buildings.