Soon to be one of Quebec’s most in-demand sports and entertainment destinations, Laval’s Place Bell is now officially open! The new home of the Laval Rocket – an American Hockey League (AHL) team affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens – Place Bell features a 10,000-seat arena with NHL-compliant ice rink that can easily transform into a performance amphitheatre. It also boasts a 2,500-seat Olympic speed and figure-skating arena, and a regular, 500-seat skating rink, both of which are accessible to the public and sports organizations.

Amphitheatre esplanade and entrance, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

• Architects: Lemay
• Project: A “Must-see\” Sports Arena: Design of Place Bell to Redefine Stadium Experience
• Location: Laval, Canada
• Photography: Adrien Williams

“This building is a powerful example of our commitment to design, to community and to an integrated project delivery method,” said Design Principal and Lemay Partner Andrew King.

“Most of all, we hope the project beautifully frames the stadium experience for all users, whether they are competing athletes, concertgoers or simply residents enjoying a day on the ice.”

Designed by leading architects Lemay and CannonDesign as part of a design-build driven by Quebec construction leader Pomerleau, the new community resource benefited from an integrated design approach and the extensive use of technologies like BIM (Building Information Modeling) and VDC (Visual Design and Construction).

Entrance – Le Corbusier Blvd, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

Amphitheatre entrance and esplanade with public artwork “Faire la vague” by sculptor Michel Goulet, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

“This was an ambitious project we delivered on time and on budget, while maintaining the highest quality,” said Eric Croteau, Lemay associate and director of the firm’s BIM studio. “We are proud to have been able to exploit new technologies to the extent that we did.”

Place Bell is a multifunctional venue that elevates stadium design and will be one of Quebec’s most in-demand sports and entertainment destinations, for numerous reasons that include the following:

Amphitheatre entrance with public artwork “Faire la vague” by sculptor Michel Goulet, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

Main entrance – Lucien Paiement St, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

• Design Excellence – Place Bell represents the height of contemporary design strategies, merging architectural form, technology, urban design and landscape architecture to create a community-changing project. It was inspired by the divergent scales of the context. It is a convergence of a large iconic object that engages the sky and horizon and will become an important fulcrum for Laval. Lemay and CannonDesign brought their best talent to the table and worked together closely, using the latest technologies and expertise to make the project a resounding success.

• Remarkable Flexibility – Beyond offering a number of rinks for skating and hockey, Place Bell can transform its 10,000-seat hockey arena into an elite performance and concert venue. The building and its infrastructure design allow a quick turnaround from one event to another, to host nearly any type of performance. Beyond hockey and concerts, Place Bell is designed to accommodate the theatrical and technical needs of complex shows such as those of Cirque Du Soleil. This is a game-changing asset for event promoter and producer evenko, which directly benefits from the programming flexibility provided by this mid-size stadium.

Claude Gagné St. facade with public artwork “Faire la vague” by sculptor Michel Goulet, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

Walkway, Image Courtesy © Adrien WilliamsImage Courtesy © Adrien Williams

• Community Focus – Place Bell is a true community resource designed and built for long-term use and multiple vocations, including as a public skating rink; an exciting new entertainment venue for local residents; Olympic- and NHL-standard event infrastructure available for rent; retail space; and the Laval Sports Hall of Fame. The stadium is located close to Laval’s Montmorency metro station to promote public transit access.
• An Immersive Experience – With sports and concerts available online and TV at a moment’s notice, stadiums must now deliver unrivaled spectator experiences. Place Bell does exactly that with exceptional views for all guests and a world-class audio-visual offering that delivers a level of lighting and sound quality never seen before in Quebec.

Thanks to an integrated design approach and the extensive use of technologies like BIM and VDC, the project team delivered a highly sophisticated program in a very short timeframe, taking the use of those technologies and others to new levels.

Luxury suites, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

About Lemay

Founded in 1957 as an architectural practice, Lemay is one of Canada’s leading integrated design services firms, merging architecture, urban design, interiors, landscape, engineering, sustainability and branding into a multidisciplinary and synergistic ensemble. With several offices worldwide, it ranks 74th in the world (World Architecture, 2017). Lemay has won over 350 awards and distinctions and has been a winner of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies program since 2013, becoming a Gold Standard winner in 2017. Leveraging its unique blend of creativity, capacity and expertise, Lemay champions its clients’ aspirations, enhances users’ quality of life and strives to build a brighter future for our communities.

Main amphitheatre walkway, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

About CannonDesign

CannonDesign is an integrated global design firm that unites a dynamic team of architects, engineers, interior designers, strategists and industry specialists to help clients leverage design to solve challenges and achieve successful futures. Its more than 900 employees in 15 offices partner with clients across a multitude of industries including healthcare, education, science + technology, corporate/commercial, civic and sports. CannonDesign is recognized as the #16 design firm in the world by Architect magazine and one of the 10 most innovative architecture companies in the world per Fast Company.

10,000-seat arena with NHL-compliant ice rink that can easily transform into a performance amphitheatre, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams

About Pomerleau

Pomerleau is one of Canada’s leading construction companies and a pioneer in sustainable buildings. It specializes mainly in the building, infrastructure and civil works sectors. Founded 50 years ago, the company employs up to 4,000 people at its nine regional offices and more than 150 worksites across the country. With annual sales of more than $1.7 billion in 2016, Pomerleau is a full-service firm and offers general contracting, project management, construction management and design-build delivery methods among others, as well as alternative financing arrangements. In addition, it is a champion of virtual design and construction. Pomerleau’s divisions include Civil & Infrastructure, Buildings and Beaubois, and it co-owns Borea Construction, the leader in the Canadian wind farm construction industry.

2,500-seat Olympic speed and figure-skating arena, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams