Urban design : cultural identity on the aftermath of the Montreal Olympics

The Olympic games are one of the longest running traditions in the world. A lot of planning goes into the design for this big athletic event, since it needs to be able to accommodate so many athletes and visitors. The problem, however, is how to design not only for the event, but also for the site in the future as well. What good is it for a city to invest so much into the Games if the site is only used to host the games? The Montreal Olympics did not look at how the site would be used in the future, but instead focused on extensive spending for the spectacle of the Games and not beyond. This project will look at the design for the Olympics in Montreal in 1976 and assess what the design should be for both the present day and the future. It will also take into account the existing conditions of the site, how infrastructure can be reused, and how the site can be adapted to fit the people of Montreal. To do this, the project will look at other Olympic designs and how they allowed for future use, at the city pattern and the place the site holds within it, at what the public has envisioned for it, and at how it can contribute to future development. All these aspects will take into account sustainable measures, including reuse and recycling of existing materials on site, water management, and energy reduction. The outcome will be a sustainable design for the site of the Olympic Park in Montreal that fits into the city pattern and responds to what the public has in mind for the future.Thesis (B.?.)Honors Colleg