Aux Mille-Voix High School

Discipline : Landscape & Territories

Categories : Landscape Architecture / Landscape Architecture - Cultural & Institutional Project : Gold certification

Categories : Special Awards / Landscape + Art Integration : Grand Winner

Categories : Special Awards / Landscape + Lighting : Grand Winner

Opened in 2024, Aux mille-voix Secondary School is located in the heart of Montréal-Nord. Its landscape design complements the building’s bold architecture while meeting two key goals: integrating sports programming and offering diverse outdoor spaces for student interaction.

The design adopts a clear formal language based on the repeated use of the cube: blue aluminum planter boxes, precast concrete benches in varied heights, and movable wooden stools. Grouped in clusters, these elements form gathering spaces of varying sizes and intimacy, encouraging a range of uses—reading, socializing, studying, eating, relaxing, or playing. The concrete, shaped as monolithic blocks, gives the impression of cubes emerging from the ground, lending the site a sculptural yet practical character.

A linear tiered seating structure follows the slope along the building, serving both as a visual feature and a social space. Sports fields—soccer and volleyball—are located on the opposite side, supporting structured physical activity. Grassy areas invite lounging in sun or shade, while paved paths with pixelated, Tetris-inspired patterns add a playful, nostalgic touch.

Planting choices highlight native species well-suited to local conditions, such as black maple and American hop-hornbeam. Three mature trees were selected and reserved in a nursery two years in advance, ensuring immediate green impact upon project completion. One stands in a small, glass-enclosed inner courtyard—a calm retreat surrounded by wooden seating and movable furniture. This versatile space can punctually become an outdoor classroom or host small events.

Environmental considerations were central to the project, which follows LEED certification standards. Light-toned materials help reduce heat island effects, and no asphalt was used: bus drop-off and parking areas are paved in light concrete. Part of the roof is covered with a sedum-based extensive green roof, adding an ecological layer to the project.

Finally, Marc-Antoine Côté’s sculpture Les possibles punctuates the site: five metal columns evoke ancient temples, tree bark, and rock strata. Subtly, they echo the school’s educational mission—knowledge as a living structure, rooted and open to the future.

The project in images