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Cité Angus II
By : Ædifica
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Residential Building / Apartment & Condo of 5 to 9 storeys : Gold Certification
Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Aluminium : Silver Certification
Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Stairs : Silver Certification
Categories : Special Award / Sustainable Architecture : Silver Certification
Categories : Other categories in architecture / Facade : Silver Certification
The Cité Angus Phase II building is located at the head of the Îlot Central of the Technopôle Angus, an urban requalification project orchestrated by the Société de Développement Angus. Located on the outskirts of Montreal’s Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie district, the Technopôle is part of an integrated approach to sustainable development, revitalization and access to home ownership for families wishing to settle in the heart of the metropolis. The SDA was assisted by the architectural firm Ædifica in the development of the project named Cité Angus Phase II, a +/- 10,000 m2 building distributed over 6 floors with a residential component and a commercial portion on the first floor.
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The building takes the form of 2 volumes articulated around an interior courtyard enlivened by a spiral staircase linking all floors via a system of exterior walkways. This appropriable architectural staircase provides an environment conducive to the informal encounters intrinsic to an inclusive community. Its aluminum cladding, reminiscent of the site’s industrial past, gives it a distinctive character inspired by the spiral staircases of typical Montreal backyards. In addition to encouraging active transportation and social interaction, the staircase and corridor system allow residents to access their homes directly from the public space, reinforcing families’ sense of belonging to their properties.
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The articulation of the facades highlights the great diversity of the site’s interfaces. On the façade in relation to the urban context, a perforated aluminum cassette system dances to the rhythm of the balconies. On the side façades, the metal mesh stands out and acts as a railing for the continuous balconies, ensuring residents’ privacy while contributing to passive sunlight management. The courtyard facades, meanwhile, are stripped of the continuous balconies and second skin, exposing the building’s division into two distinct volumes. The interruption of the continuous balconies, coupled with the use of a lighter cladding in the center of the courtyard, maximizes the intake of natural light into the units.
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The development of the housing units has been thought through to ensure the adaptability of spaces and to reflect the wide variety of needs of today’s families. Some units are on 2 levels, some are walk-through, some are accessible via the corridor system and others via a central interior corridor served by an elevator. All have been developed with a concern for equity, accessibility, and inclusion, for access to a healthy, efficient and sustainable environment.
The project, whose construction was completed in 2023, is now aiming for « LEED Habitations Gold » certification. From the site layout, the choice of low-contaminant materials, the integration of an energy loop and energy-efficient electromechanical systems, the project has been thought through with constant concern for sustainable development concepts, but also with a firm determination to prioritize the quality of life of the community it serves. The project is thus part of an integrated vision of densification of the urban fabric, and is an inspiring example of sustainable development and social innovation needed in a contemporary societal context where every sensitive intervention can make a difference.
Collaboration
Real Estate Developer : Société de développement Angus
Engineering : Desjardins Experts Conseils
Other : Les Services de Protection Incendie CP
