The Sommer Building, located at 416 de Maisonneuve blvd. West in Montreal, dates from 1913. With its stately façade, clad in limestone and buff-coloured brick, it served for many decades as a well-known address for firms in the apparel business. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, technology schools and firms began replacing many of these “old economy” companies. In the late 1990’s, the de Maisonneuve façade was extensively renovated and refreshed. At the same time, the main floor public spaces were upgraded and barrier-free access provided from de Maisonneuve Blvd.