Chevalier Morales, a Montreal-based architecture and design studio, has completed the newly redeveloped headquarters of Fondaction, a Quebec labour-sponsored investment fund dedicated to sustainable and socially conscious investing. Situated in Montreal’s Ville-Marie district, the workplace redesign translates Fondaction’s mission into architecture, emphasising flexibility, ecological responsibility, and human well-being. The project updates Fondaction’s existing offices, transforming them into a carbon-neutral, future-ready environment.
Smart building design
The Fondaction Head Office is a notable example of smart building design. Chevalier Morales developed an adaptable concept that enables the space to evolve, accommodating changing functions in line with the dynamics of contemporary work practices. The project involved selective deconstruction, reuse of materials, and a complete redesign of the interiors to support hybrid work, community, and sustainability. Equipped with automated systems for energy management, air quality monitoring, and load control, the workplace operates as a responsive environment that optimises comfort while minimising its ecological footprint.
A responsible automated system
Designed with environmental responsibility in mind, the project integrates strategies that reduce maintenance and operational costs while extending the building’s lifespan. As a carbon-neutral workplace, it achieves high sustainability standards through an automated system that optimises energy use and maintains a stable, comfortable indoor environment.
The integrated management system features automated load-shedding based on real-time energy monitoring, carbon dioxide control in high-traffic areas to safeguard air quality, and high-efficiency aerothermal systems for heating and cooling. Its eco-responsibility is further expressed through an air-treatment unit operating at approximately 90 percent efficiency, alongside the reuse of materials salvaged during a prior selective deconstruction process.
A human-centred workplace
More than a simple renovation, Fondaction’s headquarters embody a forward-looking approach to the evolving nature of work. The project responds to the rise of hybrid models — accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic — by revitalising the workplace with modular, unassigned workstations and adaptable spaces that adjust to changing schedules and needs.
Reflecting Fondaction’s human-centred values, the layout prioritises comfort and well-being for both employees and clients. Integrated climate control, circadian lighting, and generous natural light create a balanced environment that supports productivity throughout the day.
The design also fosters collaboration and community, with meeting rooms, lounges, relaxation zones, and shared spaces that encourage connection across departments. Wide, naturally lit corridors promote informal encounters, while a rooftop terrace extends the flexible layout outdoors, offering settings for work and social exchange alike.
A smart, adaptable environment for the future
Chevalier Morales has developed a portfolio of cultural and institutional projects across Quebec, complemented by research into new approaches to workplace design. At Fondaction’s headquarters, this expertise translates into a smart, adaptable environment where sustainable strategies and collaborative spaces are interwoven, offering a model for how contemporary offices can evolve — by reducing embodied carbon through reuse and local procurement, minimising operational emissions with smart systems, and embedding flexibility for future development.
