The Canadian architecture landscape is in mourning following the announcement that Provencher_Roy’s co-founder Claude Provencher passed away in Montreal on May 6th.

Provencher founded the firm along with Michel Roy in 1983 and went on to become a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and was honored as a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec in 2021 for his commitment to his métier and dedication to bettering life in the great city. 

Known for his quintessential pursuit of projects that came to define the avant-garde of new urban architecture in his native country, Provencher created a number of award-winning designs, including Montreal’s World Trade Centre complex, the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the recent headquarters for the influential National Film Board of Canada, which opened in 2019.

“Today, there are countless buildings in Montréal that bear his mark,” a statement from the firm reads. “This city with its distinct seasons and its ever-changing river inspired him throughout his career. What an exciting challenge it was for him to design buildings that flourish in the sun as well as in the snow. What a privilege, as an architect, to create for this city renowned for its quality of life. As we look back over his work, one thing becomes clear: What the city inspired him to do, Claude Provencher has returned a hundredfold with beauty, sensitivity, and modesty.”

Elsewhere, Provencher was remembered by his colleagues as a “consciousness-raiser.” He is survived by his wife Lucie Bouthillette, many relatives, and children. Claude Provencher was 72 years old.