The former office building of the Lemay Michaud architectural firm in Old Montreal is where Chef Louis-François Marcotte has opened his new restaurant, Le Local, which was designed, naturally, by the building's previous owners.

The architects preserved the existing structure as much as possible and re-used many of its elements. The brick and stone walls were kept, as well as the metal beams in the ceiling. Other beams, which were found in the basement during the moving process, were used to make the footrests at the bar. The main architectural change was to reduce the mezzanine to half its size in order to increase the spaciousness and height of the ceiling in the dining room.

To achieve a warm atmosphere that is as inviting at lunchtime as in the evening, the team at Lemay Michaud focused on a chromatic range that extends from burnt orange to the brown hues of rough wood. The charcoal grey used on the ceiling, some walls and the sides of the bar is reminiscent of the place's industrial origins.

The wooden tables, most of which have been left bare, as well as the chairs and certain other furnishings are almost all from the Montreal warehouse of Ohm Mobilier. The restaurant also serves as a showroom, and most of its furniture is for sale on the spot. Other items, such as the enormous wine storeroom, were designed by Maria Rosa di Ioia, one of Lemay Michaud's architects.

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