In September 2019 the new Health and Research Learning Center on the Collège Montmorency campus opened its doors: a 10, 865 square feet meter, four story pavilion.

The new volume is taking shape: distinct, white and refined, it evokes the College's rapidly developing sector of activity: research and health. The new spaces support applied research in neurofeedback, microbiology, entomology, chemistry and ecological agriculture. Classrooms and laboratories are designed to support active teaching, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Health and Research Learning Center program required a basement locker room. The main challenge, which became the guiding principle of the concept, was to find a way to bring as much natural light as possible in order to create a friendly, safe and functional space, different from a simple basement.

An indoor and outdoor bleacher allows the creation of a central space, open on all floors to the basement, providing maximum natural light. In addition, a completely glazed fault in the center of the building increases the amount of light inside. This space, around which the classes and laboratories are deployed, combines functionality and elegance. The main feature is the large concrete atrium that stretches from the basement and two floors up, framed with wood panels along the walls to create an inviting space. On the outside, a monolithic material makes it possible to distinguish the volumes and their function. In fact, the black central space, just as distinct and refined, accommodates the common spaces, creating a contrast with the white volume housing the classes and laboratories. The Guy-Rocher pavilion owns a green roof of 347 square meter

Collège Montmorency is the only college in the city of Laval, just north of Montreal. As it has nearly 8000 students and continues to grow, in 2018 Collège Montmorency began construction of a new D wing. The initial plan for a 2,600 square meter annex was quickly expanded to a 10,865 square meter, four story pavilion with a 26 million CAD budget. The new pavilion, named Guy-Rocher, opened its doors in the winter of 2019 and represents the college’s largest investment since its construction in 1976.

The new spaces support applied research in neurofeedback, microbiology, entomology, chemistry and ecological agriculture. Classrooms and laboratories are designed to support active teaching, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Collège Montmorency has earned the Excellence CEGEP Vert certificate for eight consecutive years. The Guy-Rocher pavilion follows the school’s environmental focus and boasts a green roof of 347 square meter. 70 forcing beds are run by a youth committee promoting urban agriculture.

The centerpiece of the new pavilion is the large atrium that stretches from the basement and two floors up. The space is dominated by a modern concrete amphitheatre. At its foot, four Nova C Benches in Bracket configurations bask in the natural light shining in abundance through the large glass curtainwall and the cathedral ceiling.

Nova C modules are heavy enough that students won’t try moving them to other parts of the college. The rib color of the benches matches the wood panels along the atrium walls and the furniture can easily be reconfigured to various configurations to suit the needs of the students enjoying a few minutes of rest between classes.

Architect: DKA Architectes, Yelle Maillé et associés Architectes, Yves Woodrough Architectes