Design ideas competition for the installation of permanent grandstands on Île Notre-Dame

As an exceptional site for culture, environmental protection, gatherings, innovation and economic opportunity, Parc Jean-Drapeau helps enhance the city’s appeal, attracting visitors seeking to make unusual discoveries. It is one of Québec’s major tourist attractions and contributes to Montréal’s international reputation.

With that in mind, the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau is launching an ideas competition for the installation of permanent grandstands in the zones at either end of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve race track. These permanent structures will be used for spectator seating during the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, but above all will deliver new, year-round park experiences and services. The purpose of this ideas competition is to foster in-depth thinking on the redevelopment of these zones, with a view to offering alternatives to the current temporary grandstands while encouraging new uses for these emblematic sites on Île Notre-Dame.

The competition results will serve to identify opportunities, more clearly define needs, expand the potential uses, and solicit input from various stakeholders, and in so doing enhance the design specifications for the project, which could begin following this competition.

• Design ideas competition;
• Open to designers based in Québec;
• Held in a single stage, involving anonymous proposals;
• For selection of a maximum of four winners by a jury, who will each receive an equal share of $100,000 plus taxes;
• Aimed more specifically at architects, landscape architects and environmental designers, but open to professionals in all design disciplines.

The ideas competition is not a commitment to complete a design, but a process of creation and thinking. No professional services contract will be awarded for detailed design and execution as part of this competition.

Any firm or team comprising at least two designers, including a Lead Designer, who meet the following requirements, is eligible to enter the competition.

• A member in good standing of a professional order or association in a development or design field (architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, interior design, environmental design, industrial design, graphic design);

  OR

• A graduate of a university program leading to the design or completion of projects in a development or design field (architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, interior design, environmental design, industrial design, graphic design).

The Lead Designer must, in addition to the requirements listed above, have their place of business in Québec.

The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau encourages the formation of multidisciplinary teams, notably involving collaboration between designers in different disciplines or the addition of individuals with specific expertise, for example in engineering, universal design principles, eco-design and stage design.

The jury comprises the following individuals:

• Pascal Harvey, urbanist and sociologist, Senior Project Manager, Stantec; Chair of the Board, Native Montreal
• Hugo Lafrance, Partner, Director of Sustainability, Lemay; Chair of the Board, Bâtiment durable Québec
• Tudor Radulescu, architect and co-founder, KANVA Architecture
• Yannick Roberge, Senior Landscape Architect, Partner, Studio Director – Design, CCxA
• Marie-Dina Salvione, PhD Architecture and Urban Sciences, EPFL; lecturer in heritage, UQAM and Université de Montréal; Senior Project Manager, Institut du Nouveau Monde; Alternate Member, Conseil du patrimoine de Montréal
• Caroline St-Denis, urbanist, Planning Department Chief, Direction gestion de projets et valorisation du patrimoine, Société du parc Jean-Drapeau

Call for proposals

No fees or allowances will be paid at this stage of the competition.

Winners

Three winners will each be awarded a prize in the amount of $25,000, plus taxes. They are then required to accompany the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau in the presentation of the results during the stakeholder consultation process to be held after the competition concludes.
options de configuration Ouvert 

Registration is mandatory and must be completed before March 27, 2026, at noon (EDT). Proposals from individuals or teams who have not registered properly or before the deadline will not be considered.

Following registration, each competitor will receive an e-mail message with a link to download the competition documents. 

Registering for the competition does not constitute a commitment to submit a proposal.

All competition documents are written only in French, and all proposals must also be presented in French. 

Registration

March 27, 2026, noon (EDT)

Submission of anonymous proposals

April 1, 2026, noon (EDT)
 

All communications pertaining to the competition must be submitted in writing, by e-mail, to the competition professional consultants, Véronique Rioux and Béatrice Carabin, at the following address, and during the question period stipulated in the competition timeline (January 28 to March 20, 2026): @email.