SMEC soccer centre in Montréal, Canada by Saucier + Perrotte & Hughes Condon Marler Architects

Article source: Saucier + Perrotte & Hughes Condon Marler Architects

The Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay, today unveiled the winning project in the architecture competition for the new indoor soccer centre at the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex (SMEC). The jury has chosen the concept developed by Saucier + Perrotte / Hughes Condon Marler Architects from among the four submitted by the finalist firms.

SMEC soccer centre

• Architects: Saucier + Perrotte & Hughes Condon Marler Architects
• Project: SMEC soccer centre
• Location: Montréal, Canada

SMEC soccer centre

“First of all, I would like to congratulate the winners of this architecture competition, who have demonstrated daring and creativity,” the Mayor said. “This is one more step toward the completion of this long-awaited project, which will provide Montrealers with access to a sports centre that is not only functional but boasts a modern design meeting the highest standards of quality. This public building, a testament to the talent of our local architects, will be incorporated into the SMEC, one of the largest parks in Montréal.”

SMEC soccer centre

For her part, Manon Barbe, Ville de Montréal Executive Committee Member responsible for Sports and Recreation, said: “Soccer is constantly growing in popularity in the province of Québec as well as in Montréal, where there are more than 40,000 competitive players. The indoor soccer centre therefore fills a real need. Soccer is an accessible sport, and with this new facility it will remain so year-round.”

And Helen Fotopulos, Executive Committee Member responsible for Culture, Heritage, Design and the Status of Women, noted: “As a UNESCO City of Design, Montréal encourages designers to contribute to the city’s future. I salute the outstanding quality of the artistic and architectural expression seen in the winning concept, which also incorporates best practices in sustainable development.”

SMEC soccer centre

A wooden roof atop a glass envelope

The roof of the new soccer centre on the site of the former Miron quarry will call to mind a mineral stratum, eloquently heralding the structure as seen from Avenue Papineau. The volumes of the building will rise like a series of luminous crystals among the trees in the wooded embankment bordering the avenue, lending a human scale to the project to observers in the residential neighbourhood on the other side of Papineau, and inviting citizens to explore the SMEC park.

The centre will include one full-size soccer pitch that can be subdivided into smaller surfaces for seven-a-side play; locker rooms; a fitness and physiotherapy room; an event and restaurant area; and a family rest area. The centre will also house the offices of the Association régionale de soccer Montréal Concordia. Pursuant to Montréal’s policy on sustainable development for municipal buildings, the Ville de Montréal is targeting LEED–NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, New Construction) Gold certification for this exemplary structure.

The jury also awarded a special mention to the firm Éric Pelletier Architectes for its concept, which displayed remarkable functional qualities, placing the user first and creating connections between sports activities and the park.

The total cost of the new soccer centre is $28.3 million, with the Ville de Montréal investing $15.6 million and the governments of Canada and Québec contributing another $12.7 million through the Building Canada Fund – Québec.

Montréal, UNESCO City of Design

The architecture competition received support from the Montréal UNESCO City of Design program, an initiative of the Ville de Montréal Bureau du design and the UNESCO Chair in Landscape and Environmental Design at Université de Montréal. That initiative is funded in equal parts by the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine, the Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, the Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal and the Ville de Montréal.

Tags: Canada, Montreal

Category: Sports Complex

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