Campus1 MTL student residence, near McGill University in Montreal, is a striking example of how graphics, interior design, and architecture can combine to infuse a building with energy and life. This adaptive re-use project has transformed an outdated concrete hotel into a vibrant, amenity-filled residence that encourages social engagement at every opportunity.

Entro designed the visual identity and environmental graphics program for Campus1 MTL, the fourth in a series of independently-operated student residences developed by Knightstone Capital.

One of our goals was to recreate the spirit of the city’s nightlife. We did so in the form of abstract motifs, energetic colours, shapes, and patterns throughout the building. “For Montreal, we wanted to capture the youthful energy of this city and how the students come to thrive here – how dynamic they are, how they move, and how they fill the space with that energy,” says Entro partner Rae Lam Fox.

Large-scale graphic patterns demarcate key communal areas and differentiate between levels, while smaller, more conservative accents highlight transitional spaces such as hallways and around elevator cores.

They work in tandem with Diamond Schmitt’s architectural vision and the interior design, which encourages student interaction. Beginning from the exterior canopy and continuing throughout, each application aims to draw you in, inviting a closer look, compelling you to find out what lies around the corner or to engage with the space. Together the brand mark, signage, and environmental graphics give the space personality and identity and this has resonated with students who have truly embraced the brand.