Website redesign for an architecture firm in Montreal: budget, timeline and risks (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For a Montreal architecture firm, a website redesign pays off mostly when the portfolio no longer does justice to delivered projects, when pages load slowly on mobile because of heavy images, or when the team cannot add a project without calling a developer. Typical Montreal agency and studio quotes for this kind of redesign sit around CAD 15,000 to 45,000 (2026 ballpark), while Kolonell applies a fixed grid of USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) and USD 8,900 (Premium), delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. The two risks to handle before any design work are rights to project photography and lost Google rankings when URLs change.

What signals tell you the site needs a redesign?

Across Old Montreal, the Plateau, Griffintown and Mile End, firms working in residential, institutional, commercial or heritage projects often win their best mandates through referrals, and the client then checks the website. If the site disappoints, the referral loses strength. Here is a simple grid to assess urgency (score 0 to 3 per item).

Maximum total: 14 points. Above 7, a redesign is usually better value than patching page by page.

What budget should you plan in Montreal in 2026?

Local ranges are a 2026 ballpark based on typical quotes and public agency rate pages in general terms. They are in CAD with an approximate USD conversion. Kolonell prices are in USD only.

For a French site with a complete English version, Premium is the right tier. The Kolonell price includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native French or English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Kept on quote: a client extranet to share drawings and documents, integrations (project management software, CRM), search work and maintenance after the 3 included months. Tier details are on the international offer page.

On timing, allow 1 to 2 weeks for the URL inventory and project selection, 1 to 3 weeks for copy and photo credits, 3 to 4 weeks of build with Kolonell once content is ready, then 2 to 4 weeks of monitoring after launch. That is 7 to 11 weeks in total, most of it internal time at the firm.

What are the risks, and how do you neutralize them?

Project photography. In Quebec as elsewhere, the photographer usually keeps the copyright and grants you a licence. A licence for an awards submission or print publication does not always cover the web. Inventory rights before migration, and plan a new shoot with a local architectural photographer (third-party cost) if key projects lack usable images.

Local frame. Architects are members of the Ordre des architectes du Québec, which regulates the practice of the profession: have a partner review any statement on titles, services or projects before launch. Quebec Law 25 on the protection of personal information applies to contact and RFP forms, and the Charter of the French Language means content must be available in French. This is not legal advice: when in doubt, consult your advisor.

When is a Montreal agency the better fit?

A local agency remains the better choice if you are also redoing your visual identity with in-person workshops, if you want photo and video direction on your sites run by the same team, or if you need a client extranet connected to your project management tools. Those projects often justify CAD 30,000 and more. If your identity is stable, your photos exist and the need is a fast, bilingual portfolio that is easy to update, a fixed grid is more than enough.

Questions to ask before signing: is the redirect map delivered and tested? Are the domain and hosting in your name? Who checks photo licences? What does adding a language cost? What is included after the 3 months of support?

Mini case study

*Illustrative example.* Geneviève is a partner in a 9-person firm in Griffintown focused on heritage and institutional work. Her site has 48 indexed URLs, including 30 project pages. She picks Premium at USD 8,900 for a complete French and English site, with 24 projects migrated and 6 archived, each one redirected with a 301. Two recent projects have no photos licensed for the web: a local architectural photographer (third-party cost) covers them for about CAD 2,400, close to USD 1,700. Visible total: about USD 10,600, against an agency quote of CAD 38,000 (about USD 27,400). The average project page weight drops from about 9 MB to under 2 MB thanks to WebP.

FAQ

How much does an architecture firm website redesign cost in Montreal?

Typical quotes range from about CAD 15,000 to 45,000 depending on scope. At Kolonell the price is fixed: USD 2,900, USD 4,900 or USD 8,900 depending on the tier, with extranet and integrations on quote.

Is a French version mandatory?

For a business in Quebec, the Charter of the French Language means content must be available in French. A bilingual site falls under Premium at USD 8,900, languages set in the quote.

Can we reuse all our old project photos?

Only those whose licence covers web use. Out of 30 projects, it is common to have to check or renegotiate 3 to 6 licences before migration.

How long does the redesign take?

The build takes 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. Including project selection and copy, plan 7 to 11 weeks in total.

Will we lose traffic?

A temporary dip of 2 to 6 weeks is common. A complete 301 map, a submitted sitemap and 404 monitoring in Search Console keep it small.

Let's scope your project. Tell us how many projects to migrate, which languages and the state of your photos, and we will propose a fixed USD scope with a 3 to 4 week build. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.