Complexe sportif arrondissement St-Laurent
Complexe sportif arrondissement St-Laurent
Montréal (Québec), Canada

A dynamic landscape serves to link a new sports complex into the grounds of an existing educational institution

The insertion of two new sports centre buildings within the existing  Paul-Émile Legault Polytechnique complex transforms negative space through dynamic shapes.  Grassed slopes in the landscape parallel the shapes of the new buildings, defined by the architects as being “raised by the sculptural and kinetic energy from the heart of the building […]” (Saucier + Perotte).  The irregular landscape forms also provide an important contrast and a striking transition between the brutalist architecture of the existing Polytechnique and the light sleek modernity of the new sports complex.  Planted mostly with white and red pine (Pinus strobus and Pinus resinosa), the singularity of the vegetation along with the consistent contrast of pine silhouette against the planes of the architecture serve as a datum to link the public realm of the three buildings together.  The monotony of the concrete surface is broken using skewed grooved joints as well as 3600 pavement marker tattoos distributed along a density gradient that highlights key nodes such as entrances and meeting points.

Client
Ville de Montréal (arrondissement St-Laurent)

Collaboration
Saucier + Perrotte Architectes

Area
10 500 m2 (2.6 acres)

Year
2012-2015

Status
Built

Categories
Institutional
Plaza / Garden
Plan, CC+A
Complerxe Sportif St. Laurent - Construction process - Montreal, CC+A
Complerxe Sportif St. Laurent - Construction process - Montreal, CC+A
Complerxe Sportif St. Laurent - Construction process - Montreal, CC+A
Complerxe Sportif St. Laurent - Construction process - Montreal, CC+A
Plan detail, CC+A
Concept, CC+A
Concept, CC+A
Groundfloor + Topography, CC+A
Roof Plan, CC+A