Montréal, Quebec, Canada

The $58 million competition for the Concordia Science Building, launched in 1999, was an initiative by Concordia to improve the infrastructure of the Loyola Campus, located in the heart of downtown Montreal. The challenge was great: in addition to meeting the technical requirements of its program, the building had to reveal its emblematic nature and reflect the modernization of the university campus. At the functional level, as the pavilion was to become the main site for research and scientific advancement, the jury stressed the importance of submitting a proposal that was both ecological, in line with the institution's objectives and social mission, and avant-garde, in terms of adaptability and flexibility of the layout. For example, the circulation network as well as the organization of the laboratories had to facilitate the transportation of equipment and provide for possible modifications or renovations of the facilities. At the formal level, the program called for the integration of a contemporary building into the campus environment and urban context. The dialogue between the new building and the traditional turn-of-the-century architecture of the existing buildings was to be evident and contribute to the creation of a cohesive and user-friendly environment.

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