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Au Domaine-sur-le-Vert
By : Provencher_Roy
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Public Building / School & Preschool Education Building : Silver Certification
On the verge of becoming the first WELL school in Québec, Au Domaine-sur-le-Vert proposes a teaching approach extending well beyond the classroom
The pedagogical realm should not be limited to classrooms: the guiding principle of the design for the Au Domaine-sur-le-Vert primary school, entrusted to Provencher_Roy by the Centre de services scolaire de Saint-Hyacinthe. In fact, the school constitutes the first one in Québec conceived to attain WELL certification, prioritizing occupant health, comfort, and well-being. Mainly characterized by the fact that all spaces have been imagined as potential teaching spaces, the school transforms the traditional hallway-classroom plan of the past, making way for a new flexible and collaborative approach. The conventional architectural framework was revisited to diversify gathering and teaching spaces, while favouring interaction and socialization. Therefore, taking the opposite stance of schools composed of long hallways lined with classes, Au Domaine-sur-le-Vert offers a more flexible, open, and innovative model.
Situated in a dense residential sector, this new school borders a large green park that prolongs the schoolyard. At the client’s request, the back of the schoolyard has remained unfenced, making the park into an additional vast playground. The building’s positioning allows the neighbourhood to breathe, enhances its public realm, and offers visual openings onto an island of greenery. Both the school and park have become a new landmark for the neighbouring community and the city – an exemplary living space punctuated with beckoning recreational areas. Furthermore, the site is accessible and safe for both pedestrians and cyclists.
The new school consists of 6 pre-school classes, 16 primary classes, and 4 classes for students with physical, adaptational or learning disabilities (EHDAA). A large agora houses a mealtime gathering space bathed in the natural light infiltrated by an immense curtain wall, also offering an exceptional panorama of the schoolyard and adjacent park. The school is particularly adapted to children. For instance, the volume dedicated to pre-school learning is one level lower, and the division of the building into pedagogical wings with distinct entrances and furniture integrating signage inspires safety while preventing students from feeling overwhelmed as they circulate within the school. The human dimension extends to all project details, and specifically to perforated railings that are adapted to accommodate the smallest users, enabling them to view the agora alongside taller users.
The certification process is underway for Au Domaine-sur-le-Vert to become the first WELL-certified school in Québec. Particular attention was placed on the use of healthy materials that are low carbon, locally sourced whenever possible, and recycled or infinitely recyclable (like aluminum). Omnipresent in the project, FSC-certified wood infuses multipurpose spaces with warmth and conviviality. It shapes little alcoves in which to read or converse, in addition to harmonizing with calm light colours and dynamic yellow accents. Students benefit from maximum exposure to natural light, pleasant acoustics, and generous views of the exterior. Classrooms are north facing to prevent glare from direct sunlight and avoid continually closing the blinds, whereas multipurpose spaces are south facing to benefit from an abundance of natural light. Solar exposure is regulated through the textural interplay of translucent and opaque surfaces, and the integration of shade screens on the southern fenestration. Finally, the use of geothermal energy paired with the highest performance insulation and radiant floor heating provide optimal user comfort. These are just some of the many distinguishing characteristics of Au Domaine-sur-le-Vert primary school, making it an inviting learning environment for students and teachers alike, paving the way to academic success, and establishing the school as a landmark in the Domaine-sur-le-Vert community of Saint-Hyacinthe.
Collaboration
