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Fabrik 8
By : rocioarchitecture
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Commercial Building / Mid & High-Rise Office Building (≥ 5 storeys) : Silver Certification
Fabrik8 is a unique business complex built in the Mile-Ex in December 2020. The first phase, completed in December 2020, covers 120,000 ft2 and offers on eight floors commercial premises, an abundance of shared office space and a rooftop sports center including an outdoor multisport field that transforms, in winter, into a hockey rink, the unofficial national sport of Quebecers. Its design is aimed at a clientele of start-ups and large-scale companies, particularly in fields related to technology.
The project stands out for its approach focused on the health and well-being of occupants and aims to obtain a Well certification. The project is innovative by integrating advanced technologies in terms of thermal comfort, heating, air conditioning, air quality, water quality and controlled lighting to follow the circadian rhythm of users. In addition, artwork and strategies to keep users active and offer them a wide range of spaces where they can work comfortably, workout and socialize with colleagues are among the design principles that contribute to a healthy and stimulating environment. The materials have been carefully selected to limit any emissions harmful to human health.
A double-height atrium on the ground floor and walkways on the upper levels were planned to connect the two phases in an innovative and minimalist architecture that allows a maximum of light to penetrate through its smooth and uncluttered envelope. Shared spaces allow tenant companies to reduce their need for space, thus optimizing the occupation of urban space. The commercial spaces on the ground floor invigorate the district by contributing to urban life and consolidate the Mile-Ex’s position as an employment center. The complex is served by indoor parking on 3 underground levels designed in landings to meet the narrowness of the land and optimize the cost and the number of parking spaces.
On the street side, the smooth and refined envelope bathes the interior spaces in natural light and on the ground floor, the crystalline double-height façade allows a dialogue between the public road and the shops. On the alley side, a one-dimensional, colorful and playful mosaic in corrugated metal recalls the heterogeneous character of the Mile-Ex. Upstairs, balconies extend the interior space to the outside, like the balconies of Montreal alleys. The common wall at the edge of the neighboring land is an ideal canvas for a huge mural.
The boldness of the program and the non-standard equipment of the project pushed the architects to develop alternative solutions to control costs without cutting elements essential to the uniqueness of the project, which were a guarantee of its attractiveness and success. The transformation of the rooftop multisport field into a skating rink in winter, the signature of the project, was a great challenge. It was necessary to confirm the feasibility by multiple technical studies analyzing the acoustic control of impact noise, the compatibility of the different sports platforms with the infrastructure, the needs for service space such as a zamboni garage, etc. The coordination between the experts made it possible to develop an optimal and feasible solution within the project timeline and budget.
