École Irma-LeVasseur

Discipline : Architecture

Categories : Public Building / School & Preschool Education Building : Gold certification

Durable, inclusive, and deeply rooted in its environment, Irma-LeVasseur High School embodies a renewed vision of education in Quebec and is fully part of the provincial initiative to modernize the school infrastructure.

The school occupies a strategic position between the residential fabric of Anjou and its vast industrial sector. It acts as an urban bridge, redefining neighborhood boundaries and forging strong ties with the community.

The project's volume is articulated around three complementary entities: a school block, a sports block, accessible to the public outside of school hours, and a central community core. The latter, a space for socializing and relaxation, connects the different areas of the school. It houses an inner courtyard where a young tree stands, both an object of contemplation, a symbol of biophilia, and an educational tool. It invites calm while expressing a certain vitality. Over the years, this tree will flourish as it witnesses several generations of students evolving with it. Evolving with the seasons, its foliage will take on shades ranging from red to orange-yellow in autumn. These nuances will be highlighted by the orange-colored accents of the mullions, reaching towards the sky on all four sides of the inner courtyard.

The educational spaces are designed to encourage flexibility, autonomy, and adaptability. Distinct wings group the school activities, while flexible and naturally lit environments allow configurations to be adjusted according to the needs of the students and staff, fostering human interactions, stimulating creativity, and openness to others.

The project also aims to be a model of environmental commitment. Sixty geothermal wells power an eco-friendly heating and cooling system. A high-performance envelope, triple glazing, green roofs, the use of durable materials, and a construction site with low waste production demonstrate a clear commitment to a sustainable approach. In this spirit, the project aims for LEED Silver certification, highlighting its overall environmental performance.

The project celebrates Quebec identity through architectural and landscape gestures rooted in culture, territory, and contemporary realities. Local materials are highlighted, including aluminum panels from Quebec for the facades, and native wood species used in interior fittings, such as spruce benches in the auditorium. The curtain wall mullions, the marquee, and the entrance glazing subtly integrate the fleur-de-lys blue, a nod to national symbols.

More than a place of learning, Irma-LeVasseur becomes a collective landmark: a living building, in tune with its time, where architecture supports learning, fosters inclusion, and celebrates the future.

The project in images