Located in Drummondville’s Saint-Nicéphore district in Quebec, Canada, on the edge of a dense woodland that informed every stage of its conception, École secondaire du Bosquet (Secondary School of the Grove) was designed by Quebec studios ABCP architecture, Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes, and Bilodeau Baril Leeming Architectes. Designed under the direction of Jean-Pierre LeTourneux, senior associate architect at Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes, the school creates an inspiring setting where students learn and grow in close dialogue with nature.

The forest as muse and anchor

When approaching the design, the forest became both muse and anchor. The primary architectural intention was to let the woodland take centre stage, integrating nature into the project in a way that the school and the forest become one. The forest, a place that awakens the senses and fuels the imagination, naturally inspired a space dedicated to education, curiosity, and personal growth.

To reinforce this relationship with nature, the schools’s volumes were designed to trace the topography of the landscape. “We composed the massing so that it recalls the stratification of the land,” explains Jean-Pierre LeTourneux. “The materiality, for its part, combines both transparency and vertical relief, evoking the play of light and shadow at the wood's edge.” Large windows and generous openings draw in daylight and connect the interior to the surrounding landscape, enhancing the energy that nature brings.

A dialogue between learning and landscape

The school’s layout unfolds around the preserved wooded area, creating a constant dialogue between interior spaces and the forest beyond. On the ground floor, key communal areas, including the entrance hall, atrium, auditorium, and cafeteria, extend along the forest edge, enjoying open views and abundant natural light. Circulation routes for the sports zone and gymnasium also face the woods, reinforcing continuity with the natural setting.

Upon entering, users find themselves immersed in nature: the biophilic square, the school’s primary gathering space, features wooden bleachers and open sightlines that affirm the forest’s presence within the architecture. This experience continues on the upper levels, where a bright central walkway connects the auditorium and the expansive, light-filled library, while classrooms benefit from large horizontal windows framing the landscape. Collaborative workspaces at the heart of each learning cluster encourage interaction and a shared connection to the surrounding environment.

Throughout, large glass facades and bronze-coloured aluminium sunshades, tonally matched to the surrounding trees, filter a soft, dappled light reminiscent of the forest canopy. Outside, the landscaped areas echo the adjacent woodland: from the public square in front of the school to the inner courtyard, and through the wide stepped opening between the sports complex and the main building, every path and view is intertwined with nature.

An ecosystem of sustainability

École secondaire du Bosquet was conceived as a low-carbon, high-performance school that deepens its connection to nature while minimising environmental impact. Designed to meet LEED v4 Schools Silver standards and aligned with Quebec’s PACC 2020 (Plan for a Green Economy) framework, the project combines an efficient mixed structural system with an all-electric mechanical strategy to enhance energy performance.

Passive design measures, including triple glazing, reinforced insulation, and green roofs, reduce demand and promote comfort, while heat recovery systems and radiant floors optimise year-round performance. Locally sourced and recyclable aluminium panels were developed in collaboration with AluQuébec — a Quebec-based organisation that advances sustainable innovation and local expertise in aluminium design. The result reflects the project’s commitment to material innovation and regional circularity.

Landscape preservation, modular facades designed for adaptability, and durable, low-maintenance materials further express a holistic approach to sustainability rooted in longevity and respect for place.

In this forest setting, the architecture of École secondaire du Bosquet becomes an expression of harmony between learning and the natural world — a school where architecture, environment, and human experience coexist as one.