Architectural Competition for the Renovation and Expansion of the Pierrefonds Public Library - Four Finalists are Chosen!

MONTREAL, July 8, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough Council has adopted today a resolution endorsing the selection of the four finalists by the jury at the end of the first stage of the architectural competition for the renovation and expansion of the Pierrefonds Public Library. This project is part of the Programme de rénovation, d'agrandissement et de construction des bibliothèques publiques de Montréal (RAC) de l'Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal.

"In addition to providing the borough population with an inspiring and innovative reading and knowledge place, the architecture competition encourages creativity and improves our architects' notoriety. A cozy library is propitious for discovery, exploration, knowledge and intellectual development", according to the ministre de la Culture et des Communications, Mr. Maka Kotto.

"One more step is taken towards the realization of this project, which meets the highest standards. This project is consistent with our vision of a cultural and future-oriented metropolis in terms of design and sustainable development. It is with this type of competition, among other things, that Montréal assumes its title of UNESCO City of Design and fulfils its commitments in terms of city design and projects quality", declared Mrs. Élaine Ayotte, responsable de la culture, du patrimoine et du design au comité exécutif de la Ville de Montréal.

"A library is a place of learning, of knowledge and of imagination. The Pierrefonds Public Library will become an innovative place where citizens will have access to a wide range of services and where they will surely hang out. We are now at the stage where the imagination of our Culture, Libraries and Social Development Division as well as of our partners at Ville de Montréal give way to creation and architectural art. We thank the Government of Quebec for its financial support for this important cultural project", said Mrs. Monique Worth, Mayor of the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

The finalists

The jury met on July 4 to analyze 10 compliant files and designated four finalists based on an assessment according to the rules of the contest regulations.

In alphabetical order, the finalists are:

• AFO (Atelier Big City, FSA architecture and L'Œuf)
• BGLA and Coarchitecture
• Chevalier Morales architectes and DMA architectes
• Consortium Dan Hanganu architectes and Groupe A

The six jury members have designated Mr. Jacques Plante, Architect and Associate Professor at Université Laval, author of numerous architecture books, as president. In addition to Mr. Plante, the jury is composed of the following members: Mrs. Phyllis Lambert, Architect and Founding Director and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Mr. Oscar Ramirez, Architect Associate at Cardin Ramirez Julien and designer of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, Mr. Michel Beaudry, Architect at Beaudry Architecte and member of the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough's Architecture Committee, Mr. Dominique Jacob, Director of the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Culture, Sports, Leisure and Social Development Department, and Dr. Guylaine Beaudry, Director of the Webster Library at Concordia University.

The next steps

The selected finalists will be asked to produce a sketch / concept. The jury will meet again on September 24 to select a winning design. Citizens will then be invited to a public presentation of the finalists before the jury. The winner will be announced in October 2013.

The project

The work includes a complete renovation of the existing building and an extension of 2,316 m². The new facilities will include the integration of new technologies and a radio-frequency identification system to facilitate documents management and to offer self-service loans and returns. In addition, the values of sustainable development will be integrated within the project designed to receive the LEED Gold certification. The ministère de la Culture et des Communications and Ville de Montréal will jointly contribute with $14 million. The remaining $4.4 million will be paid by the borough, also responsible for the operational costs.

Information

For more information about the competition, please visit: mtlunescodesign.com.

SOURCE: Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

Bassam Chaarani
Communications Officer
Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro
514 624-1044

Sarah Shirley
Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif
Ville de Montréal
514 872-5628