Kopa Padel

Alex Lesage

• Architects

Located in the heart of Pointe-Saint-Charles, a historic industrial neighborhood in Montreal, Kopa has established itself as a premier destination dedicated to the community and indoor racquet sports. Occupying a standalone, single-story industrial building of approximately 20,000 square feet, the project required a major structural intervention to adapt the existing envelope to the precise dimensions of modern padel courts. The architectural intervention directly embraces the raw volume of the original structure, creating a striking and intentional contrast between a large-scale, immersive sports arena and a series of intimate reception areas with saturated colors.

The layout of the program divides the vast space into two distinct areas, shaped by the building’s varying ceiling heights. The lower section, with a 12-foot ceiling, houses the amenities and dining areas, while the main volume, rising to a height of 24 feet, is entirely dedicated to sports facilities.

The tour begins at the main entrance, where visitors are welcomed into a sleek reception area and gift shop designed for check-in and equipment rental. A cloakroom is cleverly concealed nearby, leading to a central restroom block consisting of two mixed-use sections featuring multiple private restrooms and shower stalls with built-in lockers. Directly behind this block, the layout opens onto a spacious lounge area centered around a central bar. A true visual focal point, this bar faces the courts with high stools on one side, while high tables for two are integrated on the other side. Deep benches flank the bar at each end, flanked by screens for broadcasting tournaments.

When the ceiling reaches its maximum height of 24 feet, the large sports hall reveals four professional padel courts, a pickleball court comfortably tucked away in the back corner, and a training room enclosed by glass walls. The central padel court runs parallel to the service area, offering a full view from the reception and bar. Spectator flow is facilitated by custom-built multi-level woodwork structures: a long, two-tiered bleacher is strategically placed between the courts and the lounge, complemented by a large three-tiered grandstand running along the southern perimeter. At the rear, the fully glass-enclosed wellness center houses a yoga and Pilates studio on the ground floor, a Pilates studio with equipment (Reformer), as well as a small private lounge nestled between the two training areas.

The design concept is based on a rigorous color-blocking strategy to delineate the program’s various functions. The large gym pays homage to the existing envelope by covering the courts, the exposed metal framework, and the wall panels with a single monochromatic layer of warm beige to amplify the natural light. The open ceiling is finished with a textured beige acoustic coating that effectively absorbs the sound reverberations inherent in racquet sports.

Continuing the theme of the original industrial concrete floor slab—meticulously preserved and polished throughout to enhance its finish while celebrating the site’s history—the 4-foot-high concrete foundation wall is left completely raw and unpainted. This monolithic concrete base serves as a tactile and historical anchor, grounding the playing surfaces in the building’s industrial past. Pushing the tone-on-tone immersion effect to its maximum, the court structure is also painted the same beige as the walls, contrasting only with a black sports floor featuring white lines.
In contrast, the lower service areas are completely submerged in a deep burgundy red, from floor to ceiling. Enveloping the reception area, restrooms, and lounge, this saturated hue intentionally compresses the 12-foot ceiling height, intensifying the sense of intimacy and comfort.

The custom-made furniture features a minimalist yet striking aesthetic. In the boutique, the long reception counter—crafted from red-stained wood—is topped with a sleek stainless steel work surface, crowned by a suspended monolithic light fixture. Behind the counter, the wall-mounted cabinetry incorporates a series of backlit niches that transform the displayed rackets into true works of art.
In the lounge area, the cabinetry is designed to preserve visual perspectives. The central bar appears as a monolithic block of red wood with rounded corners, intentionally low in height and featuring fully integrated storage in the lower section so as not to obstruct the view of the padel courts. The custom-made benches are upholstered in dark burgundy leather with stainless steel accents, accompanied by tables with gray stone tops resting on stainless steel frames. The bar stools are upholstered in red velvet on stainless steel bases, complemented by solid wood chairs stained in a matching red. In the gym area, the custom-made red wooden bleachers incorporate rubber surfaces as well as built-in planters that bring a touch of greenery to the heart of the athletic space.

The lighting strategy features two contrasting yet carefully balanced atmospheres. While the gym provides uniform, high-performance lighting over the workout areas, the glass-walled Pilates studio is softened by a heavy beige curtain with generous pleats that can envelop the room, transforming the glass-enclosed space into an immersive cocoon conducive to both exercise and relaxation.

In contrast, the lounge and service areas feature a subdued atmosphere inspired by restaurant design. The ceiling is punctuated by long, recessed rectangular red-wood panels housing concealed dimmable LED strips, interspersed with functional square surface-mounted ceiling lights. In the restroom areas, this design approach reaches its peak: the walls and custom-made sink counters are entirely clad in red square ceramic tiles and stainless steel accents, enhanced by custom-cut mirrors with integrated backlighting, recreating the hushed ambiance of a private club.

Kopa reimagines the contemporary sports center by successfully blending a high-performance athletic complex with the cozy ambiance of a high-end lounge. By celebrating the monumental, raw scale of Pointe-Saint-Charles’ industrial architecture and weaving in a vibrant, uncompromising narrative, the project stands out as a powerful and forward-thinking addition to Montreal’s social and sporting landscape