The Montreal Gazette

The 18-storey building that is 5 Place Ville Marie has developed cracks in dozens of concrete ribs on its facade and is about to get a controversial makeover. Heritage groups are upset that the building's owner is set to replace the exterior concrete cladding with a "more modern" glass wall with stainless steel or aluminum trim. The Societe immobiliere Trans-Quebec, which owns the complex, is the real estate management arm of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, which manages Quebec's provincial pension fund. The new facade on all four walls of the free-standing building, at Mansfield St. and Rene Levesque Blvd. W., will cost more than $10 million, SITQ officials said, without giving the full cost.