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Architects: CIRCUM.ARCHITECTURE, Carl Charron Architecte
- Area: 2225 m²
- Year: 2010
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Photographs:Stéphane Groleau
Text description provided by the architects. The brand new Centre spécialisé de technologie physique du Québec stands in a previously unexploited environment in the heart of a new and rapidly developing industrial park located in La Pocatière. Specializing in the field of component design and prototyping for the technology industry, the CSTPQ needed to establish head offices in its image, blending innovation and creativity. On a site surrounded by steep topography and bordered by mature trees, the building evokes the inherent duality between the purity of nature and the precision of technology.
The in-depth architectural exercise, hinging on a subtle balance between full and empty spaces, lines, and volumes, and on the juxtaposition of contrasting colors and textures, was given concrete expression in a building that asserts both its corporate and industrial identity. The offices and laboratories are centralized in the southeast section and benefit from openings that provide views while favoring natural light. The mechanical engineering department, laser welding cells, anechoic room, and the building’s imposing mechanics occupy the northeast area, thus respecting the “ergo-spatial” comfort and safety standards required for this type of technological equipment.
Recipient of the 2nd Jury Prize in the Industrial Building – $5M or more category at the 2011 Awards of Excellence in Architecture presented by the Ordre des Architectes du Québec, the project was described by the jury as a “contrast of colors and materials reflecting the spirit of technological innovation, the product of scientific rigor and unbridled creativity.”
In addition to being in the process of obtaining a LEED® NC silver certification, the building sets itself apart by the decisive application of numerous principles for sustainable development: the integration of passive energy sources (geothermal, passive solar, photovoltaic, energy reserve, and so forth), a very high-performance envelope and glazing, an over 50% reduction in energy consumption and a 47% reduction in water consumption compared with base case buildings, the protection, preservation, and development of green areas
The notions of comfort, flexibility, sustainability, and reduced operating costs are the guiding principles behind the design of this project, which combines functionality and high performance.
