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Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Saint-Charles Street Area Redevelopment
By : AECOM
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Landscape & Territories : People’s Choice Award
Categories : Concept / concept in landscape and/or urban development : Silver Certification
Categories : Urban Design / Urban Design Plan
Categories : Urban Design / Civic Design Project : Silver Certification
Prized for its breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River and the metropolis, the area around Brossard’s Saint-Laurent Boulevard has been home to a large number of new, high-density residential developments for several years. The area, which is home to a high proportion of seniors, is lacking in parks, green spaces, and gathering places. Traffic, safety, comfort and mobility issues have also been observed.
In this context, AECOM was commissioned by the City of Brossard to completely rethink the layout of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Saint-Charles Street in order to create an integrated network of public spaces that takes into account the needs of the population. The project proposes a complete renewal of Saint-Laurent Boulevard, in addition to including a neighborhood park (Saint-François Park) and a new park on the riverfront.
The proposed vision focuses on unifying public spaces into a vast, integrated promenade. The layout and ambience associated with the various spaces are the result of variations in the intensity of three elements: nature, activities and mobility. While Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Saint-Charles Street are more associated with the concept of an active promenade, the vocation of Saint-François Park is one of relaxation and recreation, while the riverfront park will be conducive to contemplation.
The concept ties in with the aspirations and dreams of the local community through an inclusive, four-part participatory process that included an online survey, participatory workshops with citizens, a design workshop with the City and public partners involved in public transit and public health, and an open house to unveil the chosen development concept.
Saint-Laurent Boulevard will be transformed into a unified green promenade, with generous planted dividing strips to enhance user experience. Pesdestrians and cyclists will enjoy wider sidewalks, more crosswalks, a dedicated bike path and plazas built around bus shelters or that highlight park access points. The removal of two vehicular lanes and the integration of raised crosswalks and intersections will reduce traffic speeds to further secure vulnerable active users.
Saint-François Park, located at the intersection of Saint-François Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard, will be designed to encourage both relaxation, play, and multi-generational cohabitation. Featuring a peaceful yet intimate ambience, the park will integrate retention and rainwater management gardens, rest areas, playful artworks, a covered multi-purpose space and a decorative fountain. A range of shrubby plants in contrasting hues, evolving according to flowering periods, will create rich and varied atmospheres.
The new riverside park will take the form of a pedestrian promenade which will encourage strolling, interaction with water, and discovery of exceptional views towards the river, the Samuel-de-Champlain bridge, downtown Montreal and its mountain. The promenade will be dotted with rest areas and lined with trees and diverse gardens. The shoreline will be extensively renaturalized and greened with native species adapted to the site’s particular conditions.
