1. School / Studio
In 1983, Ronald Labelle Master Glassblower, and François Houdé sculptor / glass artist collaborated with other partners to create a fire arts collective. In October of that same year, the Centre des métiers du verre Bonsecours was created. Since October 6th 1986, the Centre des Métiers du verre du Québec / Espace VERRE, exclusively occupies the old Fire Station 21. Over the years, Espace VERRE becomes known as a School / Studio, research centre and patron of glass arts and an important glass arts establishment. In October 2003, an exhibition called "Towards the Future" celebrated Espace VERRE 20th anniversary, through its founders and six glass artists teachers.

Since 1989, Espace VERRE is the only glass art school in Québec which in collaboration with the cégep du Vieux Montréal), offers a Diploma of College Studies (DEC) in fine crafts with a glass option. The first batch of students to graduate from the DEC program was in 1992.

2. Building
Espace VERRE has occupied the fire station no 21 since 1983. It was built in 1912 by Finley and D.J. Spence, W.A. Gagnon, associated architects whose work was supervised by T.Lessard, general contractor. It was inaugurated on May 1st 1913 and stopped its Fire Preventive Services on April 16th 1972.

Measuring 4,000 m², Espace VERRE's accommodations has a glassblowing and sand casting studio with a continuously charged furnace that holds up to 1000 lbs. molten glass, with four workstations and nine annealing kilns; a cold working studio equipped with horizontal grinding units, wet belt sanders, a diamond saw and drill; two sandblasting cabinets; kiln working, a pate de verre studio with nine electrical kilns; a glass painting, flameworking and neon studio with four electrical kilns; a mold making room and the transitional Fusion studio.

In 2008, important renovations began to bring the building up to current standards. On November 13, 2009, the new and improved space was inaugurated, along with the work by Pierre Fournier that now adorns the fire station's tower.