Bibliothèque Caroline Dawson and Parc Le Prévost

The winning project is notable for its exemplary fulfilment of all seven judging criteria evaluated by the jury. Members remarked on the outstanding quality of the team’s proposal, and appreciated the following aspects in particular: 
 

• The articulation of the architecture ensures that the building will sit lightly on the surrounding land;
• The wood structure is a strong signature element;
• The choice of Corten steel for the exterior cladding gives the project a distinctive identity while meeting the requirements of the Passivhaus standard;
• The firm saw the constraints stemming from the Passivhaus principles as an opportunity to design differently, with multiple conceptual choices enabling achievement of the targeted certifications;
• Locating the terrasse on the ground floor optimizes its usage and meets the stated needs;
• The volumetric solution ensures good control of sunlight in the library interior; the coloured tinting on some windows enlivens the space; the generous opening onto the interior space also allows for ample natural lighting from the skylights;
• The window openings onto the park establish an open, accessible connection from the ground floor;
• The arrangement of uses in the resilient park and the multifunctional amenities enrich the potential for activities;
• The development approach for the park distinguishes the thematic spaces of the woods, characterized by varied vegetation and continuous cover;
• The team had a good understanding of the site constraints, resulting in superior stormwater management;
• The overall proposal was informed by high-quality interdisciplinary work;
• The team demonstrated that the project budget is feasible;
• The distribution of the spaces is compliant with the functional and technical program requirements.  

With its emphasis on sustainability, creativity and innovation at the service of the ecological and social transition, the selected design is fully in keeping with the Montréal 2030 Agenda for Quality and Exemplarity in Design and Architecture. 

For more details, see the jury’s full report, available in the Download documents section.