What Sid Lee Architecture does

Sid Lee Architecture is a Montreal-headquartered architecture and interior design firm founded in 2009, employing nearly 60 professionals across architecture and interior design. The firm operates as an integrated practice delivering end-to-end services from master planning and strategic positioning consulting through design execution, with no departmental silos between disciplines and across the broader Sid Lee creative collective. Its service portfolio spans master planning (schéma directeur), mixed-use complexes, multi-unit residential, work environments, retail commerce, leisure and culture infrastructure, and hospitality design, with projects ranging from boutique hotels to multi-million square-foot masterplans.

The firm employs a research-driven design methodology inspired by scientific research, incorporating mapping, statistical analysis, ethnography, and mind mapping to develop architectural solutions, complemented by BIM and VR visualization tools for client engagement. Sid Lee Architecture targets enterprise clients across real estate developers (Ivanhoé Cambridge, Montoni, Canada Lands Company, Allied Properties, Pomerleau, Canora), hospitality operators (Fairmont, Vogue Hotel, Irth Hotel, A5 Hospitality, Four Seasons), transit and government bodies (exo, municipal governments), and premium retail brands (Concepts). Revenue is generated through project-based professional fees for architecture, interior design, master planning, and strategic consulting services, with engagements ranging from strategic positioning through design execution.

Since 2015, Sid Lee Architecture has been a member of kyu, a global creative services collective established by Hakuhodo DY Holdings, providing access to multidisciplinary expertise across IDEO, SYPartners, C2 Montréal, and Digital Kitchen. The firm is led by founding partners Jean Pelland and Martin Leblanc, supported by VP/General Manager Solène Lavigne-Lalonge. It maintains headquarters at 1 Place Ville Marie in Montreal's central business district and has executed projects across Canada and the United States, with recognition through awards including CODAawards, World Interiors News Awards, LEED v4 ND Gold certification, and finalist positions in C40 Reinventing Cities competitions.

Name

Sid Lee Architecture

Legal name

Sid Lee Architecture

Website

https://sidleearchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sid Lee Architecture is a Montreal-based architecture and interior design firm serving enterprise real estate developers, hospitality operators, government bodies, and premium retailers through project-based professional services spanning master planning, mixed-use developments, hospitality, and public infrastructure design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architecture design services
• Interior design services
• Master planning services
• Mixed-use development design
• Hospitality design

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Architecture and interior design professional services: Project-based professional fees for architecture, interior design, master planning, and strategic consulting services. Revenue is generated through design contracts with developers, property owners, hospitality operators, and government entities for new construction, renovation, and conversion projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sid Lee Architecture is an architecture and interior design firm delivering comprehensive design services across master planning, mixed-use complexes, multi-unit residential, work environments, retail commerce, leisure and culture, and hospitality sectors. The firm serves enterprise clients including real estate developers, hospitality operators, retail brands, and government bodies on new construction, renovation, conversion, and large-scale master-planning mandates. It operates as a single integrated practice of nearly 60 professionals, leveraging a research-driven design methodology and interdisciplinary collaboration with the broader Sid Lee creative collective.

Product overview

Sid Lee Architecture offers a unified architectural and interior design service across multiple sectors. The firm's portfolio includes master planning, mixed-use developments, multi-unit residential projects, work environments, retail commerce, leisure and culture infrastructure, and hospitality design. With nearly 60 professionals in architecture and interior design, the firm operates as a single integrated practice rather than a modular product platform, delivering end-to-end services from strategic planning through design execution for projects spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, cultural, and infrastructure typologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture and Interior Design Services Comprehensive architectural and interior design services spanning master planning, mixed-use complexes, multi-unit residential, work environments, retail commerce, leisure and culture, and hospitality sectors, delivered for enterprise clients on new construction, renovation, conversion, and master-planning mandates.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Grand Collider zero-carbon building produces 100 times less carbon emissions per year compared to a standard building over a 100-year lifecycle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, minor, flagship and core.

• A5 HospitalitynotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Continued partnership with A5 Hospitality on Rose Orange rooftop bar at Place Ville Marie (3,100 sq. ft., 44th floor, Mediterranean-inspired terrace with retractable roof).
• Gelḧ — Making Cities for PeoplenotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2021Partner in the Les Ateliers Cabot proposal for C40 Reinventing Cities 2020-21 competition. The project at 4000 St-Patrick St. in Southwest Montreal proposes an innovative social and communitarian development model as a laboratory for testing clean technologies.
• ArupnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2021Engineering and sustainability partner in the Les Ateliers Cabot C40 competition proposal. Also collaborated on The Grand Collider (2019 C40 finalist) and C2 Montréal student charrette, providing technical and sustainability expertise.
• MandaworksnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2021Landscape architecture partner in the Les Ateliers Cabot proposal and in the Place des Montréalaises international competition entry (anno proposal).
• GBi Experts-ConseilsnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 January 2021Engineering consultancy partner in multiple projects including The Grand Collider (C40 2019), Les Ateliers Cabot (C40 2021), and the C2 Montréal student charrette on inclusive city design.
• MASSIVartnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2021Art integration partner in The Grand Collider proposal and in the John Lennon Suite 1742 project at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
• Ateliers Créatifs / Bâtir son quartierminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Community development partner in Les Ateliers Cabot proposal and The Grand Collider, bringing expertise in social housing and community integration.
• Groupe C. LaganièreminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in Les Ateliers Cabot proposal, contributing construction and development expertise.
• Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.notableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2020Collaboration partner on the Irth Landscape Hotel and Spa project in Prince Edward County, Ontario — a four-season, nature-based boutique 24-room hotel with indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy spa on 79 acres.
• DesignAgencynotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2020Collaboration partner on the Irth Landscape Hotel and Spa project alongside Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.
• ConceptsnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2020Design partner for Concepts' global flagship store at 18 Newbury Street, Boston (4,700 sq. ft.) and Union Square, New York City store (2,500 sq. ft.). Sid Lee Architecture designed museum-like retail environments blending street culture and high fashion, including modular, event-capable spaces.
• MASSIVartnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2020Collaborated on the John Lennon and Yoko Ono Suite 1742 at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, creating immersive and interactive elements that preserved the historical Bed-In for Peace movement. The collaboration won the CODAawards 2020 in the Hospitality category.
• Ivanhoé CambridgeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Primary client and strategic partner on major projects including Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel renovation, Espace C2, W Montreal common areas, Le Cathcart, Rose Orange, Esplanade PVM, and the ~$1B Projet Nouveau Centre investment plan targeting four major real-estate properties along McGill College Avenue in Montreal.
• MontoniflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Primary real estate development partner on multiple flagship projects: 950 Beaumont (industrial conversion), The Grand Collider (C40 finalist, ~650,000 sq. ft. mixed-use), 495 Beaumont (117-unit residential, LEED v4), and Maison Montoni headquarters (42,000 sq. ft. at Espace Montmorency).
• AkonoviaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner in The Grand Collider C40 Reinventing Cities proposal, contributing expertise in circular economy and urban innovation.
• A5 HospitalityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2018Sid Lee Architecture and A5 Hospitality co-developed the concept for Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten at Place Ville Marie (3,252 sq. m., 1,000+ seats, 15 culinary concepts) as part of Ivanhoé Cambridge's $200M Esplanade revitalization. Sid Lee Architecture handled the architectural design while A5 Hospitality managed the food and beverage concept and operations. The partnership continued on Rose Orange rooftop bar (2023) at PVM's 44th floor.
• Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux ArchitectescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 September 2018Consortium partner for the execution of Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten at Place Ville Marie. The consortium combined Sid Lee Architecture's design vision with Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux's architectural execution expertise.
• Architecture49coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017Consortium partner for the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel major renovation (690,000 sq. ft., 21 floors), providing architecture services alongside Sid Lee Architecture's design vision.
• kyu (Hakuhodo DY Holdings)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Sid Lee Architecture is a member of kyu, a global collective of creative services companies established by Hakuhodo DY Holdings (Asia's second-largest advertising network). The affiliation provides access to multidisciplinary expertise across IDEO, SYPartners, C2 Montréal, Digital Kitchen, and other member companies.
• OSMO FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Transformed William Notman House into a tech startup incubator, creating a rooftop café linking two buildings. Project won the 2015 Prix d'excellence OAQ in Conservation & Restauration.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HOK: Global architecture, engineering and planning firm with significant hospitality, mixed-use, and urban design practices. A broad incumbent that competes for large-scale masterplans of the type Sid Lee Architecture pursues in Montreal.
• Gensler: Global design and architecture firm with deep hospitality, retail, workplace, and mixed-use practices. Represents the larger incumbent against which Sid Lee Architecture competes for international enterprise mandates.
• Bjarke Ingels Group: International architecture firm known for sustainability-driven, mixed-use masterplans. Competes with Sid Lee Architecture in international competitions such as C40 Reinventing Cities and for high-profile urban regeneration mandates.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture practice with a longstanding sustainability and master-planning reputation. Represents a top-tier incumbent in the carbon-neutral urban regeneration space where Sid Lee Architecture has positioned itself via Grand Collider and Les Ateliers Cabot.

Direct peers

• Architecture49: National Canadian architecture firm focused on institutional, hospitality, and cultural projects. Partnered with Sid Lee Architecture on the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth renovation, making them both a direct competitor and consortium peer in Quebec.
• Lemay: Large Canadian architecture and design firm with strong Montreal presence and broad hospitality, residential, commercial, and transit infrastructure practice — a directly comparable multidisciplinary design firm serving similar enterprise clients.
• KPMB Architects: Toronto-based architecture firm with comparable cultural, institutional, and mixed-use portfolio. Both firms pursue LEED-certified and sustainability-focused projects for institutional and developer clients across Canada.
• Provencher_Roy: Leading Montreal architecture firm with a similar mixed-use, institutional, and urban regeneration portfolio. Competes with Sid Lee Architecture for marquee Montreal developer mandates including Place Ville Marie-area projects.
• Diamond Schmitt Architects: Toronto-based architecture firm with comparable cultural, hospitality, and mixed-use work including major Canadian institutional projects. Competes with Sid Lee Architecture for large-scale developer and institutional mandates.
• Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes: Major Montreal-based architecture firm with comparable typology coverage in commercial, residential, and institutional projects. Sid Lee Architecture has partnered with them on Le Cathcart at Place Ville Marie, making them both a direct competitor and a consortium partner in the Montreal market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sidlee
• Facebookfacebook.com/meetsidlee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sidleearchitecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/sidlee_architecture

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sid Lee Architecture