Saint-Michel station - Large image

Ligne 5 bleue SAINT-MICHEL

Ligne 5 bleue  Snowdon

Left arrow D'Iberville

Architect

Architects

LeMoyne et Associés; Roy E. LeMoyne and Michel Lapointe1

Artist
Inaugurated

Start of service

June 16, 1986

Ligne 5 bleue  Saint-Michel

Terminus ⦸

Ligne 5 bleue  Anjou
(under construction)

Vertières Right arrow

Art & Architecture

The trainroom of Saint-Michel station, seen from the departure platform within the central volume. The edge of the crossover (left) and the spandrel wall above the trainroom vault (right) define a high vertical space housing stairs up to the transept level (centre). Walls are clad in square terra cotta blocks, with glass block accents; the glass block panels covering the station's artworks are at right. The central volume of Saint-Michel station, seen from transept level at the landing at the foot of the stairwell to the ticket hall. To the left and right, stairs lead down to the departure platform; at right is the crossover to the arrival platform. At upper right is the stairwell to the Saint-Michel Est headhouse, whose windows admit natural light into the volume. The station's unique cube-shaped light fixtures are overhead at left and right. The volume, and the headhouse above, are supported by four pairs of pillars, two pairs of which are visible at foreground left and right.

This station’s platforms, built in tunnel, jut out from a central volume in the shape of a rounded cube, some 16 metres deep. This volume, supported by four pairs of tall pillars rising through its entire depth, is crowned by the main headhouse. At its centre, the main stairwells, from the surface to the ticket hall and down to the crossover level, form a central axis. The volume’s layout thus emphasizes its function of unifying all levels of the station.

View of the central volume and the departure platform, viewed from the stairs up from the arrival platform. At centre is one of the four pairs of pillars supporting the roof of the volume and the east headhouse atop it. At right is the parapet of the crossover. Behind the distinctive light fixtures (top centre and right), a grid of square openings on the back wall provides ventilation. The stairwell from the transept level to the ticket hall, seen from its west side, rises through the main volume. At left, the landing at its foot leads to the departure platform; in the foreground is the crossover from the arrival platform. Overhead, windows and skylights in the east headhouse admit natural light. The platforms at the bottom of the station's main volume under the flight of stairs up to the ticket hall, seen from the crossover. The east wall of the main volume forms a high spandrel wall over the trainroom vault.

The station’s walls are clad in materials that pay homage to the architecture of the surrounding area.1 Most of the walls are clad in square terra cotta blocks, which recall red brick, while matching the size and shape of the station’s distinctive glass blocks, a signature of the neighbourhood. The floor is clad in a consistent pattern of white and grey square tiles with blue and yellow decorations at regular intervals, framed by granite bands.

Looking across the tracks from the departure platform stairs. The edge of the crossover (left) and the spandrel wall above the trainroom vault (right) define a high vertical space housing stairs up to the transept level (centre). The station's distinctive light fixtures are installed along a rail passing through the axis of this space. Behind them, windows and glass block walls admit their light into the ticket hall. Panoramic view of the high, flat spandrel wall on the west side of the main volume, above the trainroom vault. Above, the station's impressive cube-shaped light fixtures are installed on a railing and catwalk running along the contour of the volume, and cast dramatic shadows onto the ceiling. The undulating wall along the landing above the departure platform, at the foot of the stairs to the ticket hall. Above, a grid of dark square openings conceals a ventilation shaft. Detail of the remarkable cube-shaped light fixture housings along the contour of the central volume ceiling. Their shapes suggest Japanese lanterns, with a postmodern industrial air provided by the metal armatures and grilles. The rails between the fixtures, as well as serving an aesthetic function, also serve as a catwalk for ease of maintenance.

The main volume is graced with exciting decorative architecture, with interest added by sheer flat spandrel walls over the trainroom vaults, undulating walls and an array of square ventilation openings facing the central stairwell, and light fixtures in unusual cubical industrial forms inspired by Japanese lanterns, arranged on rails for both aesthetic value and ease of maintenance.2 These produce dramatic lighting effects on the upper walls of the volume.

The trainroom seen from the western end of the departure (Snowdon) platform. The four panels of glass blocks along the platforms enclose the station's artworks; visible at right is Lauréat Marois's mural Habitacle. Looking toward the western end of the platforms from the arrival (Saint-Michel) platform. The four panels of glass blocks enclose the station's artworks; the bright colours of Marcelin Cardinal's mural can be glimpsed in the centre-right display. The eastern flight of stairs going up from the arrival platform to the footbridge, at right. The stairs wrap around one of the four pairs of pillars that support the roof of the cube-shaped main volume. An accent of glass and rose granite blocks joins the two pillars.

The platforms are shortened, being the length only of a six-car train rather than the nine-car length of every other station; even on the rest of the blue line, the other stations’ platforms are built to the full length, with the unused portion simply closed. Here, the full-length trainroom was excavated, but the western third was not finished and was closed off to allow the construction of a control room. The unfinished platforms are visible from the western end of the platform. When the blue line is converted to nine-car operation as part of the extension to Anjou,3 this section will need to be finished and opened for use, but no digging will be required.

A platform bench in black granite with stepped end pieces. The walls are clad in terra cotta blocks and the floor in white and grey chequered tiles with regularly spaced blue and yellow decorations. At the rear, stepped curved panels of terra cotta and granite blocks mark the platform end walls. The trainroom vault, beyond the western end of the platforms, seen from the departure platform. Although full-length platforms (the length of a nine-car train) were excavated and built, the trainroom was only finished and opened to the length of a six-car train. The roughed-in excavation remains and is visible from the platform end, ready to be finished if and when the blue line is upgraded to nine-car operation. Note the curved, stepped walls at the platform ends.

Above the platform, the crossover level has an efficient layout. The escalators from the ticket hall unload onto a landing on the departure platform side, which leads to two curved stairs down to the platform; this arrangement shortens and simplifies the traffic flow for departing passengers. On the other side, arriving passengers head up the stairs to a corresponding landing underneath the central stairwell, and continue via a crossover to reach the foot of that stairwell.

Looking down the main staircase to the transept-level landing above the departure platform. The station's distinctive lamps are visible along the perimeter of the main volume. Note the curved wall along the rear of the landing and the array of square ventilation openings above. At top left is the stairwell up to the eastern headhouse from the ticket hall. View of the flights of stairs above the transept level, from the landing leading to the departure platform. At right is the bridge from the arrival platform landing. Above, the windows of the east headhouse admit sunlight into the central volume. Looking along the bridge from the arrival platform landing toward the foot of the stairs to the ticket hall.
Panorama of the landing above the arrival platform; stairs from the platform are at left and right. At centre-left, the bridge leads to the foot of the stairs to the ticket hall. The landing above the arrival platform, underneath the flight of stairs to the ticket hall (right).

The ticket hall is a broad open-plan area extending south from the main volume, which it overlooks through openings, windows, and glass block walls. These provide especially dramatic views of the volume’s lighting effects.

Stairs from the ticket hall up to the east headhouse above it. The void to the right admits light from the headhouse windows into the station's central volume. View of the ticket hall, looking northeast. The stairs to the east headhouse are at centre-left, the turnstiles at centre-right. The hallway to the west headhouse is behind the viewer. The ticket hall, looking northwest from the fare-paid zone. The stairs to the east headhouse are behind the turnstiles at centre; at centre-right are the stairs to the platforms. The orange glow seen through the glass block walls and windows and in the space at rear is from the large light fixtures in the central volume.
The ticket hall, looking south along the gateline. In the right background is the hallway to the west headhouse. Panorama of the ticket hall, looking west from the fare-paid zone toward the gateline. The staircases up to the east headhouse and down to the platforms are at right. The hallway to the west headhouse is at centre-left beyond the turnstiles.

The headhouses on either side of Boulevard Saint-Michel continue the postmodern flair of the station’s design, extensively using the station’s signature glass block in concrete-framed zigzag-shaped walls that admit copious sunlight. The street grid determined the prow-like triangular shape of the eastern headhouse, perched atop the main volume and covering half of its square footprint. Here, the glass block walls illuminate the ticket hall and platforms below through the open spaces of the volume. The passenger entrances are located at the back corners of the triangle, on either side. Behind the entrances, a two-storey section of the building with undulating brick walls houses an electrical substation.

The station's two headhouses, on either side of Boulevard Saint-Michel. The Saint-Michel Est headhouse is at right, Saint-Michel Ouest at left. The east headhouse viewed from the south. The triangular concrete structure stands atop the main volume, which it illuminates via its glass brick walls. Behind it, the two-storey section with curved brick walls contains an electrical substation.
The west façade of the east headhouse, seen from across Boulevard Saint-Michel. The entrance, at centre, is at one corner of the triangle-shaped concrete structure. The eastern façade of the east headhouse, along Boulevard Shaughnessy. The zigzag glass brick walls admit sunlight to the volume below.
The triangular section of the east headhouse projects away from the two-storey brick section, along Boulevard Shaughnessy. The entrance occupies one corner of the triangle. The flat glass brick wall along Boulevard Saint-Michel in the east headhouse. The prow-like point of the triangular Saint-Michel Est headhouse, at the intersection of Boulevard Saint-Michel and Boulevard Shaughnessy.
The interior of the east headhouse. The Boulevard Saint-Michel exit is at right, the Boulevard Shaughnessy exit is at far left. The windows at left overlook the ticket hall and main volume below, with the stairs to the ticket hall at centre-left. Inside the east headhouse, looking toward the stairs to the ticket hall. The triangular area around the stairs sits atop the main volume (crowning half of it), and is surrounded by glass block walls that admit sunlight. Looking down into the station from the Saint-Michel Est headhouse, which covers half of the square-shaped main volume. Below are the stairs from the ticket hall toward the platforms.

The smaller western headhouse across the street, although free of the street grid constraints, repeats the same triangular shape. It is set amid a small plaza with trees and flowerbeds, an extension of an adjacent park. It is connected to the ticket hall by a tunnel with one undulating wall.

The west headhouse faces a small plaza. Like the east headhouse, the triangular building's hypotenuse consists of a zigzag of glass block walls that admit natural light, with planters dividing the points of the zigzag. The south entrance to the west headhouse, with the east headhouse in the background across the street.
The west headhouse seen from across Boulevard Saint-Michel. The eastern point of the triangular west headhouse. The northern entrance of the west headhouse, set back from the street and topped with a semicircular concrete awning.
The interior of the smaller west headhouse, brightly sunlit via its glass brick walls. The north entrance is at left, the south (closer to the intersection) at right. The corridor between the west headhouse and the ticket hall. The wall at left undulates while the right one is flat, creating an interesting contrast.

The station’s artworks are four large murals at the western end of the platforms, each created by a different artist. Each is installed behind a wall of glass blocks, so that they only reveal their forms and colours gradually. On the departure platform, the mural with playful human figures on a grey background is by Charles Lemay, and the one with abstract forms in various bright colours is by Marcelin Cardinal. On the other side, Normand Moffat created a work in shades of brown, and Lauréat Marois one in blue, white, and black, entitled Habitacle.

Mural by Charles Lemay, located on the departure platform near the stairs, with human figures on a grey background. Mural by Marcelin Cardinal, located near the west end of the departure platform, with brightly coloured abstract shapes.
Mural by Normand Moffat, located on the arrival platform near the stairs, with abstract forms in yellow, tan, and brown. Mural by Lauréat Marois entitled Habitacle, located near the west end of the arrival platform, with a dark triangular form on a blue-green background.

These colourful works brighten up the far end of the platform, while their glass block coverings remain harmonious with the rest of the decoration.

Matt’s Rating

****

Accessibility

This station is not currently wheelchair-accessible. In the STM’s 2020-2029 capital expenditures program, this station was targeted for the installation of elevators by 2027. However, it no longer appears in the 2023-2032 program, the construction of new elevators has stalled due to budget cuts by the provincial government,4 and no construction work has yet been announced.

According to the Plan de développement d’accessibilité universelle de la STM 2012-2015 (p. 40), the predicted complexity of adding elevators at this station was rated as high (estimated cost over $18 million).

History & Trivia

Traffic

Ridership

3,468,762 entrances in 2025

25th busiest station

Platform depth

Interstation distances

Interstation Distances

To D’Iberville: 607.60 metres

Origin of the Name

Boulevard Saint-Michel. The name Saint-Michel has been associated with this district and this street for at least two centuries. The concession of Côte Saint-Michel was granted in 1699, and the Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Michel was built along the route of today’s Boulevard Crémazie and Rue Jarry. The municipality of Saint-Michel-de-Laval was founded in 1912 and became a city in 1915; it was annexed to the city of Montreal in 1968.5

Montée Saint-Michel, today’s Boulevard Saint-Michel, was opened in 1707, perpendicular to the main road, to make it easier to reach Montreal.5 Known subsequently as Chemin du Saint-Michel, Chemin du Sault, and 11e Avenue, it was officially named Boulevard Saint-Michel in 1969.

In Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim beliefs as well as in certain Jewish traditions, Saint Michael is an archangel who is the advocate and defender of Israel. In the book of Revelation he battles a dragon representing Satan. In Catholicism, his feast day is September 29, and he is patron of soldiers and emergency personnel.


Map (c. 1876) of the village of Saint-Michel, showing Montée (now Boulevard) Saint-Michel.

Map (c. 1876) of the village of Saint-Michel, showing Montée (now Boulevard) Saint-Michel
(Source6)

Archangel Michael Defeats Satan, by Guido Reni

Archangel Michael Defeats Satan, by Guido Reni
(Source7)

Trivia

  • On October 3, 2024, this station was closed on an emergency basis until further notice. During renovation work, significant structural degradation had been detected in certain supporting beams in the main volume over the footbridge, making the station unsafe. Fabre and D’Iberville stations also had to be closed because trains would not be able to use Saint-Michel station to reverse.8 Fabre and D’Iberville were reopened on October 9 after changes were made to the signaling and train control system, allowing trains to reverse between D’Iberville and Saint-Michel.9, 10 After a 39-day closure, Saint-Michel station reopened on the morning of November 11, after the structure was secured sufficiently to admit passengers and the rest of the necessary repair work could continue at night.11 Work continued until July 2026.12
  • Several editions of the Dictionnaire visuel by Éditions Québec Amérique have used an image closely resembling depiction of this station, apparently based on one of the original architectural sketches of it, to present the vocabulary related to the parts of a metro station.
Architectural sketch of the station's central volume.

Architectural sketch of the station’s central volume
(Source1)

Illustration of a metro station from Le Petit visuel multilingue, by Éditions Québec Amérique.

Illustration of a metro station from Le Petit visuel multilingue, by Éditions Québec Amérique
(Source13)

General Information

Platform diagram

Most convenient metro cars to use when travelling to this station

Platform diagram - Saint-Michel station

Station surroundings

Saint-Michel - Station surroundings

Station address

Borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension

A Saint-Michel Est entrance: 7345, Boulevard Saint-Michel, at Boulevard Shaughnessy
B Saint-Michel Ouest entrance: 3223 Boulevard Shaughnessy, at Boulevard Saint-Michel

OpenStreetMap link
Google Maps link

STM neighbourhood map (PDF)

Nearby attractions

Official website

Service information, opening hours, frequency, bus routes

STM logo

Most recent update: October 11, 2026

References
  1. LeMoyne et Associés, architectes. Station St-Michel (presentation document for the Bureau de transport métropolitain). April 1981. Archives de la Ville de Montréal, dossier CA M001 XCD001-D19, item 1D-06-01-20F. ↩ ↩ ↩
  2. Savard, Serge. (1997, April 23.) “Prévention des chutes: Des efforts à la STCUM.” En Commun, vol. 7, no. 7, p. 4. ↩
  3. “Grands projets métro: Système de contrôle des trains.” STM. ↩
  4. Ouellette-Vézina, Henri. (2025, April 16). “Faute de financement: L’installation d’ascenseurs encore à l’arrêt dans le métro.” La Presse. ↩
  5. Fontaine, J.; Thibault, S. (2008). La petite histoire de Saint-Michel: de la campagne à la ville, 1699-1968. Montreal: Arrondissement de Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. Archived on archive.org. ↩ ↩
  6. Sicotte, L.-W. (c. 1876). Plans officiels des comtés d’Hochelaga et de Jacques-Cartier. p. 7. Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, G/1142/M65G46/S53/1876 DCA.  ↩
  7. Guido Reni. Archangel Michael Defeats Satan. c. 1630-1635. Oil on silk. Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Rome. Source: Wikimedia Commons. ↩
  8. STM (2024, October 3). “Fermeture des stations Fabre, D’Iberville et Saint-Michel jusqu’à nouvel ordre : Des enjeux structurels découverts à la station Saint-Michel.” Press release. ↩
  9. STM (2024, October 9). “Réouverture des stations Fabre et D’Iberville dès 10h aujourd’hui.” Press release. ↩
  10. STM (2024, October 25). “Fermeture de la station Saint-Michel : Actions en cours.” Press release. ↩
  11. Ouellette-Vézina, Henri. (2024, November 11.) “La station Saint-Michel rouvre ses portes.” La Presse. ↩
  12. STM (2026, July 15). “Fin des travaux à la station Saint-Michel.” Press release. ↩
  13. Image source: Corbeil, J.C. (2008). Le Petit visuel multilingue: dictionnaire thématique. Montreal: Éditions Québec Amérique. pp. 946-947 ↩