McIntyre Medical Sciences Building

The McIntyre Medical Sciences Building is a circular structure at McGill University with 16 floors housing research laboratories, teaching spaces, and medical education facilities. The building sits on a slope of Mount Royal in downtown Montreal and uses multiple entrances at different levels.

The building was completed in 1966 by architect Janet Leys Shaw Mactavish and stands on the site of a former residence of railway magnate Duncan McIntyre. The circular form was an architectural choice connected to the hilly location of the site.

The Osler Library houses within this building preserves materials on medical history and shows how medical knowledge has developed across generations. You can see in the spaces how this collection shapes the work happening at the university today.

The building has entrances at different levels, so it is important to check access before visiting. Inside you will find cafeteria areas, study spaces, and resources for students and visitors wanting to explore the medical facilities.

The building was specifically designed to fit the hilly topography of Mount Royal, with the cylindrical form and multi-level entrance system being a technical response to the sloping terrain. This adaptation made it a notable example of site-responsive architectural planning in the 1960s.

Location: Montreal

Architects: Janet Leys Shaw Mactavish

Official opening: 1966

Floors above the ground: 16

Part of: Life Sciences Complex

Address: 3655, promenade Sir-William-Osler

GPS coordinates: 45.50299,-73.58238

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:26