Closing the loop
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
The National Archives in Montreal
Students who go to the consultation room of the National Archives in Montreal – one of the ten centers of the National Archives, an institution of the BAnQ – revise, perhaps without knowing it, within the walls of the former École des Hautes Études Commerciales , the first French-speaking and secular business school in Canada. And one of the most beautiful buildings in the metropolis.
Built on rue Viger between 1908 and 1911, at a time when the neighborhood was becoming gentrified, the building is in the Beaux-Arts style, like those of the old Viger station and the Union Française. “At the time, the architects Daoust and Gauthier were inspired by the Petit Palais de Paris,” underlines archivist Marie-Pierre Nault.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
We notably find the signature of the architect Dan S. Hanganu with various metal elements.
Six decades after its creation, the school gave way to Dawson College, which occupied the premises from 1970 to 1988. Then, the Opsis theater presented plays there between 1993 and 1997.
Transformation work then began to create the National Archives in Montreal. A project entrusted to the associated architectural firms Dan S. Hanganu, Provencher and Roy.
Mr. Hanganu signed the plans for the Pointe-à-Callière museum. We find its signature with the metal elements such as the footbridges and the large fence wall, which leave the stone and brick visible to enhance them.
Marie-Pierre Nault, archivist at the National Archives in Montreal
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
The consultation room
The mandate was significant. Until 2000, the National Archives were in the basement of the courthouse, a place poorly suited to the conservation of heritage documents. “We needed space for acquisitions, processing, conservation and dissemination: our four main mandates,” she explains.
After having been a museum, a theater and a library, the consultation room has become a place of memory frequented by a heterogeneous fauna.
“Before the pandemic, we mainly saw amateur genealogists, but it is increasingly frequented by students who discovered the treasure thanks to social media, lawyers who work in jurisprudence, architects who consult the archives of plans and researchers on the history of Quebec. »
All these beautiful people can admire the galleries with frosted glass floors, the wrought iron banisters, the cast iron columns, the spiral staircase and the original stained glass windows. Not forgetting the statues in the atrium. “They were in front of the Royal Bank of Canada facade, which had ordered them and had them installed,” explains the archivist.
Marie-Pierre Nault recalls that the building, which takes the shape of the Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis in Athens, is located in the heart of the city’s business district, near Place d’Armes, on Rue Saint-Jacques. “The statues, of imposing size, were quickly nicknamed the “giants of rue Saint-Jacques” by passers-by. When the bank moved, the Provincial Bank of Canada occupied the building. They were later removed due to freezing/thawing and pollution. We accepted them as a donation. The floor had to be reinforced just for that. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
The statues in the atrium previously adorned the facade of the Royal Bank of Canada.
Whoever says renovation of a heritage building obviously means upgrading work: firewalls, universal accessibility, temperature and humidity control to ensure optimal preservation of documents. “The auditorium was demolished and completely rebuilt. Vaults and 25 archive stores were added. As the school had been twinned with a private house, it all had to be unified. »
Consult the page of the National Archives in Montreal
Temple of Knowledge
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
The Monique-Corriveau library, in Sainte-Foy, is located in a former church.
From 1964, practicing Catholics from Sainte-Foy confessed their sins at the Saint-Denys-du-Plateau church. Fifty years later, the place of worship has become one of the most beautiful temples of knowledge in the province: the Monique-Corriveau library.
Before moving his books to the old church, the literary space did not look like much. “The library was cramped in a poorly lit concrete bunker from the 1970s,” remembers Julie Bélanger, architect responsible for major construction projects for the City of Quebec.
The people deserved better.
We wanted to give people something beautiful. When we had the opportunity to buy the church, which had not been used for worship for several years, we saw its incredible architectural potential!
Julie Bélanger, architect responsible for major construction projects for the City of Quebec
The political authorities were keen to preserve the volume and integrity of the building. And this, even if the transformation of the building required upgrades such as the addition of emergency exits and circulation areas, which could alter the premises. “Fortunately, the consortium Dan Hanganu + Côté Leady Cardas architects, as well as engineers have done an extraordinary job to preserve the historic beauty of the church. »
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
The old dialogue with the new.
Since the church was not suitable to accommodate the structural load of a library, which is one of the largest in building codes, the majority of documents were placed in the extension at the rear of the building. church. The section includes the reading room, the shelving and the multipurpose room.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
A church, improved!
Entering through the main nave, users see that the spirit of the church has been preserved, before discovering many new features. “Everything that has been added is very contemporary,” specifies the architect. We wanted people to understand the dialogue between the old and the new. With white steel staircases, glass railings and certain mezzanine floors, we do not invade the space with a new architectural language. »
The lighting emanating from the bay windows on the sides of the church has been preserved, but we observe an enlargement of the glazing with vertical and horizontal portions, as well as the addition of skylights.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
The volume and integrity of the building have been preserved.
These changes do not seem to have destabilized the residents of the neighborhood.
Since the opening, the comment we have received the most is that we have been very respectful of the original concept of architect Jean-Marie Roy. People quickly took ownership of the place, because they recognized it. This is their church in an improved version.
Julie Bélanger, architect responsible for major construction projects for the City of Quebec
When she thinks back to the original church loaded with brown and beige, Julie Bélanger is happy to have transformed it into a library. “When you enter, the atmosphere is cozy, bright and welcoming. I am proud to have helped to showcase it spectacularly. »
Visit the Monique-Corriveau library page
Eight-vertex polygon
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The L’Octogone library now has a new look.
Reimagining plans for a library in an old octagon-shaped building is a particularly unlikely challenge. Yet this is what architect Anne Carrier and her team succeeded in creating, with the new L’Octogone library in LaSalle, an architectural object as unusual as it is beloved by the population.
The firm won an architectural competition to which four finalists were invited, all of whom had the mandate to design a bold, open and accessible building.
Quite the opposite of the original library, according to Valérie Medzalabanleth, head of the library division at the Culture Department of the LaSalle district.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The staircase, the centerpiece of the place
It was a brown, dark space, crammed on all sides with books and tables. There was no room to breathe. We dreamed of a modern and larger library for our citizens, while retaining the octagon.
Valérie Medzalabanleth, head of the library division at the Culture Department of the LaSalle district
Stimulated by the challenge, the members of the Carrier team analyzed the history of the places to deploy their creativity.
First inspiration: the Fleming mill. “We chose to create three lanterns: one open towards the urban area, one towards the Félix-Leclerc park and one near the street and the people,” explains Anne Carrier. These lanterns create a movement that revolves around a central axis which is the heart of the building. »
Second inspiration: the Lachine Canal and its locks. The architects looked for how to symbolically move from the urban side to the bucolic side, before “surrendering” to the canal by stretching their necks. “We had the idea that the building would become like a bridge: you can now cross the library inside or over it,” she explains.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Expand on top to reinvent the space
All this without erasing the famous octagon, a shape difficult to enlarge and transform in the eyes of the architect, who sought to open this library formerly folded in on itself. “The solution jumped out at us: we had to expand on top of the octagon! »
The structural engineers racked their brains, but the idea worked.
When we look at it today, we see how organic it is. We could never have taken this project and placed it elsewhere.
Anne Carrier, project architect
For the past year, we have found the youth section in the octagon-shaped space. The library also has different activity rooms, a café, magnificent terraces, a room for hosting cartoonists’ workshops and the signature collection of comics at the heart of the space.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The youth section
Not forgetting the spiral staircase and a work of public art by Karilee Fuglem. “Everyone knew that the staircase would be interesting when analyzing the plans, but we were impressed when we saw it,” exclaims M.me Medzalabanleth. It’s so beautiful that people tell us it drives them up the stairs. »
Users like the great brightness of the places where they can socialize and relax all day long. “It has become an urban landmark,” adds M.me Carrier. Today, libraries are far from being book warehouses. These are very community spaces. It’s important to democratize these places so that everyone feels welcome there. »
Visit the L’Octogone library page