Îlot Balmoral

The Îlot Balmoral, a 13-storey mixed-useoffice building commissioned by the Société d’Habitation de Montréal (SHDM),rises as a testimony to Montréal’s creative economy. One of the final majordevelopmental pieces of the ‘Quartier des Spectacles’ in downtown Montréal, theimpressive structure sits adjacent to Place des Festivals, and is the new home ofthe National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and UQAC’s École des arts numériques,de l'animation et du design (NAD School). ” “We proposed four visions of what an officebuilding specifically designed for a cultural economy could look like, and ÎlotBalmoral was selected to echo the very vibrant, dynamic nature of thedistrict,” explains architect Claude Provencher, founding partner atProvencher_Roy. “The Quartier des Spectacles is a cultural centre of activitythat is now almost complete in its revitalization and transformation of theurban fabric surrounding Place des Arts. ” On the surface, Îlot Balmoral is a highlydynamic structure rising up from the urban fabric. The almost perfect cube isvery clean and slick, and is wrapped in exterior glass that was carefullyselected for its white frit pattern and translucent panels. The smooth andseamless exterior positions the façade as a potential giant screen againstwhich projections of Quartier des Spectacles initiatives can be presented. Subtle and dynamic tonality provides a sense of mass and substance to thestructure, and the glass façade provides an enormous infusion of light into thebuilding. The frit pattern also serves to control thermal heat gain inside ofthe building, which meets the firm’s LEED Gold sustainability objectives. The exterior façade’s infusion of lightdynamically highlights a large internal atrium, carved diagonally through thecentre of the building to create two volumes. The firm oriented the cut basedon the site’s previously existing pedestrian flow, moving diagonally betweenthe Place des Arts Metro station and Place des Festivals. To delineate the cut,and to make the building’s mark on the skyline, a bright red external foldcontrasts against the clean glass exterior. The colour was chosen as an echo ofthe cultural branding materials of the Quartier des Spectacles, and serves todistinguish Îlot Balmoral from the functions of more traditional office towersin the district. As a nod to Îlot Balmoral’s importance toMontreal’s creative scene, the National Film Board of Canada signed on as thebuilding’s core tenant. Celebrating 50 years of film excellence, the Canadianinstitution was looking to modernize and transform their facilities, and themove included the reinstallation of the iconic NFB logo in the new lobby, whichis a symbol of Canadian design history. “The NFB signing was proof of concept forus that architecture can redeploy and reprogram how neighbourhoods are defined,not only on a visual or physical level, but also in its role as a centre ofcohabitation,” says Provencher. “Several other cultural organizations havesince signed leases, and Îlot Balmoral is becoming the creative hub that weenvisioned. ” Without requiring any significant changesto the architecture, Provencher_Roy redesigned four floors of Îlot Balmoral forthe NFB in order to accommodate their technical requirements, including editingrooms and the hosting of state-of-the-art equipment. They also built a brightlylit white staircase leading up to the NFB offices, located directly under thered canopy of the building’s main entrance. Provencher_Roy’s inclusive design strategyembraces the vibrancy of the district by drawing in pedestrian flow across thediagonal cut of the building’s sunlit lobby. The atrium establishes the lobby’sunique identity, ascending skyward to the building’s glass ceiling amidst abright material palette of white and light gray walls, and exposed concretefloors. The palette was chosen to reflect and enhance the energy and dynamismof the lobby, anointed with additional features including exposed columns and asignature brass deck. Above the lobby level, the open atrium isframed by brightly lit offices. Pedestrian bridges on every level connect thebuilding’s two volumes, crossing the atrium and providing spectacular views ofthe surrounding cityscape, with a backdrop of Montreal’s landmark Mont Royal. The northeastern volume floats one storey higher than the southwestern volume,and the latter hosts a rooftop greenspace with breathtaking city views that isdesigned for outdoor events. “It was a particularly interestingexperience, driven by our client’s eagerness to achieve something spectacular,”summarizes Claude Provencher. “Beyond the functionality of the individualspaces of the built environment, we believe that Îlot Balmoral captures andincorporates the vibrancy of the district. ” Technical sheet Location: Montréal, Canada Client: Société d'habitation et dedéveloppement de Montréal (SHDM) Surface Area: 27,850 m² Year: 2019 Contractor: Construction Management: GroupeTEQ Electromechanics: Dupras Ledoux ingénieurs Structure: Nicolet Chartrand Knoll Ltée Acoustic: Davidson Legault Lighting: CS Design Other Collaborators: AECOM / Exim / Gomultimédia / Technorm Certification: Candidate for Gold LEED-NCCertification