In Montreal, Quebec, two new high schools that aim to rethink the learning environment for their students opened for the 2024 autumn term. The two schools — Irma-LeVasseur and aux Mille-Voix (in the Anjou and Montréal-Nord boroughs of Montreal respectively) — were designed in collaboration by three Canadian architectural firms: TLA Architectes, UN architecture, and NEUF architect(e)s.
In 2020, Quebec’s Ministère de l’Éducation launched an ambitious project aimed at modernizing and improving the province’s teaching infrastructure. TLA Architectes, UN architecture, and NEUF architect(e)s joined together to create two school environments that provide open and inspiring learning spaces, where connections with nature encourage personal growth and academic accomplishment.
Aux Mille-Voix high school
Irma-LeVasseur high school
Adaptability and flexibility
The design and layout of each school is tailored to their individual sites. However, certain ministerial standards were required, for example, the use of Quebec’s fleur-de-lys blue and aluminum panels on the facades (fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily that is a symbol of the Canadian province and is represented on the flag of Quebec).
Aux Mille-Voix high school
Irma-LeVasseur high school
The educational programs of the two schools evolve within a “fluid space”, something that is reflected in the inclusion of a large atrium and courtyard in each building. These architectural elements maximize natural light, provide open spaces for collaboration and recreation, and host a variety of school events and ceremonies. For TLA Architectes, UN architecture, and NEUF architect(e)s, the design of a high school is more than simply fulfilling the functional and operational requirements of academia; rather, it is about creating an environment in which learning and socializing coalesce, thereby encouraging creativity and conversation.
School amenities, such as the sports facilities, are available for use by local clubs outside of school hours, helping to integrate the buildings into their communities.
Aux Mille-Voix high school
Irma-LeVasseur high school
To promote flexibility, the architects situated a variety of program elements, both academic and extracurricular, in a fluid space: classrooms have movable partitions, while in collaborative areas there are no partitions. To facilitate wayfinding, a rich mix of colors, textures, materials, and signage have been used in each building. The approach is described by the architects as a “dispersion strategy” — here, “a balanced distribution of flows invites each user to move freely, exploring the building at their own pace.” The inclusion of wood cladding, acoustic felt panels, and acoustic wood slats add further creative elements to the two school environments.
Aux Mille-Voix high school
Irma-LeVasseur high school
Aux Mille-Voix high school
The layout of this school was influenced by the scale of its site and an adjacent woodland. The architects explain: “Two compact volumes are arranged around a planted courtyard, crossed by two perpendicular axes to maintain a direct access with the neighboring streets. The school opens onto a public square, which serves as both a reception area and an open-air amphitheater.”
Aux Mille-Voix high school is spread across a total of five floors with a surface area of 25,000 square meters (269,098 square feet). Its amenities include a mix of classrooms, science labs and art studios, collaborative spaces, sports facilities, a library, and a 500-seater auditorium.
More than 1,800 students are arranged into six age-based communities, with two communities per floor. This particular spatial organization resulted in the creation of spaces on a more human scale.
Irma-LeVasseur high school
This school is characterized by its long and narrow configuration; the building is bordered on one side by a residential area and on the other by a quarry and a linear park. The design of the school and its surrounding landscape integrates the building into its urban environment.
Irma-LeVasseur high school is spread across a total of five floors with a surface area of 27,000 square meters (290,626 square feet). Its amenities are similar to those found in aux Mille-Voix high school.
A community-focused school, Irma-LeVasseur high school accommodates 1,900 students and contributes to the vitality of the area.
Artworks
Several artworks were created for the project, in line with the “1% policy” in Quebec — this government initiative mandates that one percent of the budget for public construction projects is allocated to the integration of art.
At aux Mille-Voix high school, local artist Marc-Antoine Côté designed “Les Possibles”, an artwork that comprises five columns; standing in front of the school’s south-facing facade, the columns symbolize the wealth of knowledge that has been accumulated through the ages.
At Irma-LeVasseur high school, “Crinoïdes” is a series of flower-like sculptures by artist Marie-Michelle Deschamps — also known as sea lilies, they represent the small crinoids found as fossils in sedimentary rocks (the result of a time, millions of years ago, when Montreal was under water).
Sustainability and energy efficiency
Across the two schools, recycled concrete pavements and green and white roofs alleviate the urban heat island effect; glued laminated timber (glulam) curtain walls increase the amount of natural light; and a geothermal system reduces energy costs by around 35 percent. Additional sustainability measures include wood cladding and columns and EV charging stations. Altogether, these features give each school building an expected lifespan of 75 years and meet the requirements of LEED Silver certification.
A black maple tree and an ironwood tree, planted in the middle of the school courtyards, complement new and existing trees and embody the environmental sensitivity of the overall project.
Aux Mille-Voix high school
Irma-LeVasseur high school
