Share to

Centre Alessa du Centre de formation professionnelle Paul-Rousseau

By : PRISME architecture + Faucher Gauthier Architectes

GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition

Discipline : Architecture

Categories : Public Building / Higher Education & Research Building : Bronze Certification

Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Wood : Gold Certification

The new Centre Alessa expansion at CFP Paul-Rousseau forms a link between the existing St-Frédéric and Marcel-Proulx pavilions and allows the school\\\’s students access to all the services of the main pavilion, namely the student dining room and the CFP administrative area. The location between these two existing buildings built in the early 1950\\\’s was an exciting design challenge, as this configuration requires the connection to be made through existing spaces that need to be rearranged and relocated. The conceptual response was to connect the new one-story building with dynamic connecting corridors that are considered pedestrian walkways in the sense of the code.

Fronting with wood

In addition to being modular, the classrooms are unique in that they have an exposed wood structure in the ceiling, which is very rarely done in a school due to building code constraints. This structure makes an optimal contribution to academic success by providing students with the benefits of biophilia over an extended period of time.

By classifying the building as combustible, the architects favored the use of wood to the maximum extent possible, among other things through the mixed structure implemented: a light wood structure for interior and exterior partitions, wood trusses and heavy timber. The exterior columns, some interior columns, beams and decking in the classroom area are made of exposed wood, while the columns in the corridor leading to the classrooms have a particular V-shaped geometry, which gives a masterful effect. Wooden finishes are included in all interior spaces: some doors are made of wood, benches are made of glulam, furniture was made of plywood covered with real wood veneer and finally acoustic ceilings made of wood slats were inserted.

Materiality

The durability required for an institutional-type building prompted the use of face brick for the façade cladding, but in a playful way by mixing three shades of pale brick that form an interesting texture and variation to the masonry volumes while blending with the existing buildings. The copper-colored aluminum panels in a mitre shape give dynamism to the facades, while allowing the colors of the existing buildings to be integrated. Black emphasizes the volumes by giving a more distinguished touch according to the restoration function.

User ownership of the building

The architectural firms made it a point of honor to place the user at the center of their concerns, which resulted in a strong ownership of the building by its users. Indeed, the outdoor area created by the enclosure of the new building was converted into a terrace to provide students with an open, calm and rejuvenating space. This space has been enhanced by the students and teachers into a vegetable garden to supply their kitchen. The students have appropriated the space in such a way that they have even named the new restaurant \\\ »Côté Jardin\\\ », a nod to the architecture of the place. They planted herb crops along the curtain wall in the classroom access corridor, bringing the built environment to life.

The design of the spaces reinforces the very function of the building

Finally, the design of the spaces in this project was designed to reinforce the very function of the building. Since the facility is primarily a school, and thus a place for the dissemination of learning, the spaces were thought to expose the work of the students through windowed sections overlooking the kitchen workshops. The large windows open to curiosity, to the sharing of experience on the one hand, but also allow those inside to benefit from an optimal entry of natural light, essential to the well-being of the school. Also the bright coloring of the project recalls the flavors, the taste, the food and the perfumes often used in this sector of activity. The dynamism created through this colorful palette is a backdrop conducive to learning for young people. Finally, the coppery metal cladding is a nod to the pots used in the kitchen, while allowing for the integration of the existing building colors.

Collaboration

Architect : PRISME architecture

Architect : Faucher Gauthier Architectes

Project Manager : Arcand Lara

Engineering : LGT

General Contractor : Construction Deshaies et Raymond

Manufacturer - Distributor : Armature Sherbrooke

Engineering : R. Guilbeault Construction

Manufacturer - Distributor : Cevec

Manufacturer - Distributor : Termic

Manufacturer - Distributor : Lavigne

Manufacturer - Distributor : Regulvar