Happy Birthday Belgo!

While we’re very proud of Plank’s 12 years running, the beloved building we call Home is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Montreal’s cultural aficionados, yogis, the art vernissage crowd — they all know about the Belgo, but . . . do you?

Getting to know the Belgo Building:

• Built in 1910;
• Originally a department store;
• Situated in downtown Montreal in the heart of the Festival District;
• Home to 5 floors of galleries, artists studios, agencies, yoga studios, and other important cultural organizations.

Plank’s been a part of the Belgo for over a decade. There are lots of little things we have spotted over the years that make working in this iconic building even more “interesting”.

• Located just behind several important government offices, we have a perfect view of virtually any march, protest, or demonstration in Montreal.
• Situated next to Musique Plus means lots of visits from Boy Bands. This also means lots of teenage girls and lots of shrill screaming and crying! Plankers often get caught in the action.
• A very happening place during Montreal’s annual Nuit Blanche.
• For aerial navigation, someone made sure to add this important marker in the back alley.
• Alien crop circles on the roof!
• Lastly, the building’s hallways provide excellent lighting for impromptu photoshoots.

One new piece of Belgo trivia we discovered this fall was that our office was previously occupied by a company called Aavanti Tuxedos — first as a whole warehouse and then secondly as a split warehouse and stone washing factory. The irony here is that Plank’s President, Warren Wilansky, would rather starve than ever wear a Tux.

If you’ve never visited the Belgo Building, we encourage you to spend an afternoon or even just a lunch hour to come explore the great Belgo. We promise you will see the unique charm that makes this building so special.