The newest addition to a major revitalization project for the Côte-des-Neiges district (known as the City’s Triangle sector in Montréal) has just opened. The new Saidye-Bronfman Park Pavilion, designed by Montréal-based architectural firm, Cardin Julien, is named after Saidye Bronfman (1897-1995), a Canadian philanthropist. Set in a new 8,600-square-meter park, it includes an arboretum, recreation areas, a natural agora, and a public square with animated water fountains.
In collaboration with the City of Montréal, Cardin Julien’s bold design was intended to help define new aesthetic, sustainability, and accessibility standards for this type of municipal building. The pavilion’s design also creates a bridge between the topography and the building.
The Saidye-Bronfman Park pavilion consists of a large multi-purpose room with a kitchen for holding various events and a reading room and a self-service library. Additionally, it includes administrative offices, washroom facilities, including one that is accessible from outside, and a garage for maintenance equipment.
The strong form of the building, which is a reference to the Triangle area moniker, acts as a landmark and the topographical variations of the land echo the angular and dynamic band of the pavilion’s metal façade.
An objective of the project is to provide the public with a showcase for the integration of sustainable development strategies into a municipal building. In order to achieve this, the building is equipped with a green roof accessible to users which captures rainwater and helps reduce heat islands.
Additionally, photovoltaic panels are installed on the south façade to supply the building with electricity. The design team also used the new slope to install a passive air conditioning system which is used to temper the air on a seasonal basis and enhance the use of natural ventilation. Underground, a geothermal loop provides heating and cooling for the pavilion. Its orientation and large roof offer shaded areas around the building and maintain a cool interior during the summer season.
The pavilion is also equipped with triple glazing on the curtain walls and benefits from a significant amount of natural light.
The new park, which was once an entirely mineralized area, is now composed of many vegetated zones.
The building aims to preserve and strengthen the community’s sense of belonging by providing a gathering place in the heart of this key location in the Côte-des-Neiges district.
The new geometry and the human scale of the landscaping also give a prominent place to pedestrians, cyclists, and people with reduced mobility.
Technical sheet
Official project name: Saidye-Bronfman Park Pavilion
Location: Montréal , Québec, Canada
Client: City of Montréal – Borough of Côte-des-Neiges – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Project size: 325 square meters
Year of completion: 2022
Architecture: Cardin Julien
Engineers and collaborators:
Landscape architecture: Projet Paysage
Civil engineering: Marchand Houle et Associés
Structural engineering: Geniex
Mechanical engineering: MBI experts-conseils
Electrical engineering: Marc Leclerc Experts conseils
Photographers: TARMAC – Damien Ligiardi and Vincent Brillant