Local agency or remote studio for an architecture firm website in Montreal: how to choose (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For an architecture firm in Montreal, a local agency remains the better choice when the website has to come out of a full brand identity project, filmed site visits and in-person workshops with the partners. A remote studio like Kolonell fits when your projects are already well photographed and you want a clear portfolio, bilingual if needed, at a fixed 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD. The choice comes down to three points: who produces the images, who writes the French and English copy, and who owns the domain at the end.

This version is written for the English-speaking partners of architecture firms in Montreal, who often work with clients and developers in both languages.

Montreal agency, freelancer or remote studio: what should you compare?

The ranges below are prudent 2026 ballparks. They draw on public rate cards of Montreal agencies, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co, hourly rates published by Quebec studios (often 100 to 175 CAD per hour) and rates visible on Upwork and Malt. Local prices are in Canadian dollars with an approximate USD equivalent.

The Kolonell team works from Senegal on GMT: calls fit in your late morning or early afternoon, and the written weekly update arrives before your day starts. Full details are on our international website offer.

When is the local agency clearly better?

• You are redesigning the firm's identity (name, logo, signage, competition boards) and the website is only one piece.
• You want construction videos or guided tours filmed in Montreal, Laval or the Laurentians: that needs a crew on site.
• Your public projects require a Quebec supplier under a tender or a local purchasing policy.
• You need a client extranet to share drawings and site documents: that is an application, best given to a supplier who hosts and maintains it near you.

When does a remote studio do the job?

A remote studio suits a firm of 3 to 15 people that already has an identity, professional photos of its projects and a clear view of its clients:

• A filterable portfolio by type (residential, institutional, commercial, heritage renovation) and by status (completed, in progress, competition).
• Process pages: from programme to site supervision, in client language.
• A fixed price in writing before work starts, paid by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery.
• Bilingual copy: French and English are both written natively; a bilingual FR/EN site is included from Premium.

What does Montreal require, and which rules apply?

Montreal firms work for developers in the Plateau and Griffintown, residential clients in Outremont or Westmount, institutions and public competitions. The website is mainly there to be checked: by a referred client, a selection committee or a candidate who wants to join the team.

• Protected title. In Quebec, the title of architect is reserved for members of the Ordre des architectes du Québec. The team page must distinguish architects, interns, technologists and designers exactly, with no misuse of title.
• Language. The Charter of the French Language provides in principle that a business's commercial presence in Quebec be available in French; an English version can be added. Have your own case checked.
• Personal information. Law 25 governs personal information in Quebec: privacy policy, designated person in charge, consent for non-essential cookies. Keep forms short and receive CVs through a secure channel.
• Photo rights. Check the photographer's licence for web use and credit lines; some architectural photography contracts limit duration or media.
• Accessibility. WCAG 2.1 AA is a useful technical reference.

This is not legal advice.

Which questions should you ask before signing?

• Who writes the project pages, and in how many languages?
• How many projects are included in the price, and who adds the next ones?
• Are photos optimised for mobile without visible quality loss?
• Who owns the domain, hosting and source files?
• What does a change cost after the support period?

Red flags: a quote with no project count, photos hosted by the agency with no copy handed over, a generic theme that crops images badly, and no mention of Law 25.

Mini case study

Illustrative example. Sophie L., partner at a 9-person firm in Mile End, receives a local quote of 28 000 CAD (about 20 500 USD) including one day of photography. She chooses Kolonell Premium at 8 900 USD for a bilingual site with 20 projects and books a local architectural photographer for two days, 4 000 CAD (about 2 900 USD). Same maintenance assumption on both sides: 120 USD per month over 30 months, or 3 600 USD. Three-year total: about 24 100 USD with the agency versus about 15 400 USD with Kolonell. She keeps a gap of about 8 700 USD but coordinates the photographer herself.

FAQ

Can Kolonell photograph our projects in Montreal? No, Kolonell does not shoot on site. You supply your images or book a local architectural photographer, often 1 500 to 2 500 CAD per day depending on the photographer.

Will the site comply with the Charter of the French Language? Kolonell writes French natively and can deliver a bilingual site from Premium at 8 900 USD. Confirming your specific situation is a matter for your adviser.

How many projects can we publish? On Growth at 4 900 USD, the full portfolio is planned; the exact number of project pages is set in writing in the quote. You can add more yourself afterwards.

How do meetings work with 4 or 5 hours of time difference? Google Meet calls take place at a time that suits you, usually between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Montreal. A written update arrives every week.

Is an extranet for sharing drawings possible? Yes, but it is a custom application, quoted on request. The site can first link to the sharing tool you already use.

Let's scope your project. Send us your project list with photos, your team page and the language you need, and you will receive a fixed-price proposal delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.