Share to
Rénovation du Pavillon Multifonctionnel de l’Université de Sherbrooke
By : Cimaise
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Public Building / Higher Education & Research Building : Gold Certification
The University of Sherbrooke project consisted of giving a second life to the dining rooms of the multifunctional Pavilion cafeteria, which was built in 1993. The premises had become obsolete and no longer met the needs of the student clientele, so the objective of the redevelopment and expansion was to convert the spaces into a café/lounge/cafeteria/bar in order to offer spaces that could be appropriated by the users, thus encouraging students to frequent the space over an extended period of time to eat, but also to study, work as a team, or engage in social activities, at any time of the day and evening.
This project was part of a larger effort to affirm the values related to sustainable development that the University has adopted. It was also part of the objective of redefining the image of the campus aimed at meeting the identification needs of the current and future clientele to the spaces and facilities. In fact, in addition to being a functional redevelopment project, expansion and replacement of finishes, this project had to meet the need to upgrade the image of the cafeteria in order to generate a sense of influence, ownership and create a sense of belonging among the clientele. This aspect of the project required research, analysis and reflection on the identity and needs of today\’s and tomorrow\’s students, physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Divided over two floor levels initially totaling 640m2 of space, the expanded 60m2 dining halls can now accommodate 500 seats. Zones with distinct atmospheres and the addition of mezzanine spaces open to the main space meet the objective of appropriating the space by students whose needs vary throughout the day. To the University\’s objectives, Cimaise wished to add the enhancement of the existing abundant fenestration, with views of the mountains in the Orford sector, as well as that of the central space open on two levels and which now hosts two new circular mezzanine spaces.
Like social networks, the new spaces keep students in constant communication with their world, with their campus. They can identify with the new image of the cafeteria, this image matches who they are, what they like. The different appropriable areas/ambiences we named Express, Resto, Atrium, Introspection, Sharing, Exchange, Relaxation, Study/Multi, and Executive meet the different functional and interaction needs and personalities of students.
Many curved or even veiled shapes were used to furnish and enliven the new spaces. To accomplish this, materials, some soft, some solid, were carefully selected by our designers and precise construction details were refined to facilitate their placement. These materials had to meet several considerations and criteria: durability, ease of maintenance, robustness against vandalism and sustainable development. Let\’s also note that the choice and optimal positioning of the lighting fixtures were the subject of particular attention in order to highlight the new fittings and optimize the new \ »staging\ » of this 2.0 cafeteria.
.
Collaboration
Engineering : Les Services EXP inc.
Engineering : St-Georges Structures et Civil
