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Major Renovation and Redevelopement of Maisonneuve primary school
By : Yelle Maillé et associés architectes
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Public Building / School & Preschool Education Building : Silver Certification
Major renovation of Maisonneuve primary school
The commitment of preserving the heritage of Maisonneuve primary school is accompanied by in-depth reflection around the proposed developments, in order to offer an ambitious, bright and playful educational venue. This major project consists of a complete redevelopment of the 5591 m2, in a building originally built in the 1920s, restoration of the exterior envelope, roof, foundation, doors and windows. Interior divisions were reinterpreted, and interior spaces, including classrooms and offices, were renovated and adapted to the evolved needs. In addition, the project was accompanied by a complete upgrade of the electromechanical and ventilation systems. Initially considered as targeted interventions, the renovations brought real added value to the building’s use, and enhanced the architectural value of the site. All this was made possible thanks to the dialogue between our team of invested architects and our receptive client, the Centre de service scolaire de Montréal.
Being awared of the importance of preserving the authenticity and aesthetics of the heritage, our team advocated a complete restoration of the envelope. To this end, the renovations evolved towards a comprehensive approach to the restoration of the exterior masonry envelope, enabling both a coherent renovation that respects the historic character of the building, while ensuring its durability and meeting contemporary standards. The uniformity of the facades and the preservation of their visual integrity were achieved by the full repointing of the masonry, thanks to a refurbishment design that was thought out and adapted to avoid any mending effect. The combined expertise of our team and masons was crucial in achieving this harmonious result.
We are convinced that creating dynamic, flexible and bright spaces has a positive impact on children’s learning within educational environments. That’s why bringing natural light into the building was a key issue for the designers, as was creating a healthy environment. The layout and reinterpretation of the interior divisions were carried out with the aim of providing a quality environment. Spacious, well-ventilated spaces were planned, as were multi-purpose rooms and multi-purpose areas, encouraging varied use. The Carrefour d’apprentissage is one of the most attractive central spaces. It stands out for its flexibility, the integration of socializing, reading and animation spaces, as well as a collaborative workspace, where the integrated furniture has been carefully thought out to meet the needs of students.
In order to bring natural light into the heart of the corridors, which are usually darker, the team paid particular attention to the layout and installation of skilfully positioned interior glazing, enabling second-day lighting. Façade glazing was maximized, complemented by glazed partitions, visual openings between rooms and in niches. Our aim was to create an environment that was as bright and fluid as possible. Thus, links and openings between the large central gathering spaces and the west side of the corridors were reinforced on each floor, to take full advantage of the afternoon sun.
The interior spaces were generously enriched with wood to create a warm, bright and welcoming atmosphere, encouraging cognitive activities and concentration. The integration of this natural material was fundamental to the design. In addition, this material was used in an innovative way as a unifying element in the design of the corridors, in the form of a flexible ribbon. This conceptual approach transformed the initially austere corridors into dynamic, inviting strolling galleries. The birch plywood ribbon adopts different shapes and angles, harmoniously following the ceiling and flooring design lines. It frames classroom entrances or used as a bench, wall recess, niche and more. This creates a succession of varied spaces adapted to different uses along the corridor: locker areas, interaction spaces, corners for sitting, reading, writing ideas on walls, disseminating information, and so on. Finally, the corridors are embellished with an easy-care, natural maple ceiling covering, which helps to attenuate ambient noise while adding a touch of sophistication.
When it came to the application of color, we drew inspiration from the color wheel, which is an integral notion in students’ elementary school learning. In this way, the circle’s twelve colors were grouped into four ranges that were applied to the school’s four floors. This helped to differentiate each level, with wood as the unifying element. Finally, the staircases and their accesses are systematically clad in yellow. As a result, they remain a common landmark throughout the building to accentuate their visibility and make it easier to locate exits, which can prove vital during emergency evacuations.
In keeping with the desire to maximize natural lighting, classrooms feature fairly high ceilings. Round acoustic clouds suspended from the ceiling at different heights help absorb noise while making the space dynamic. The interplay between colored ceilings and white clouds creates an energizing contrast, establishing a vibrant environment in these places of learning.
Heritage preservation, already mentioned, has also led to the preservation and highlighting of remarkable interior features such as the old hot-water radiators, which bear witness to the building’s history. To remedy their energy-hungry nature, we cleverly transformed them into electric baseboard heaters by replacing the water with a heating cable. This conversion enabled more efficient heating management, segmenting the building and avoiding the need to maintain a constant temperature throughout.
Because of the large surface area of the schoolyard and mechanical room, we took the opportunity of bringing the building up to standard to integrate a geothermal system. This solution for regulating building temperature brings various advantages such as energy savings, a reduced carbon footprint, reliability, versatility and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. This economically and environmentally beneficial choice is primarily aimed at ensuring occupant comfort.
Externally, the schoolyard has been designed to extend the educational experience, offering functional yet playful green spaces that encourage physical activity and ecological learning. Street furniture and color choices were carefully harmonized with the interior environment. In addition, a water retention basin was integrated to promote sustainable management of water resources, prevent flooding and protect water quality, making this development an essential element of urban and environmental infrastructure.
Finally, we are delighted to have been able to create an ideal environment that fosters student learning and development. Our efforts focused on rehabilitating the building envelope, deinstitutionalizing the educational environment and developing coherent exteriors. We preserved the site’s heritage and applied sustainable development principles at every stage of the design process. The result is remarkable. This success reflects our commitment to researching and implementing best practice in school design worldwide.
Collaboration
Architect : Yelle Maillé et associés architectes
Landscape Architecture : Rousseau Lefebvre
General Contractor : Hudson Six
Project Manager : Centre de services scolaire de Montréal
Photographer : François LeClair
