Highlights
Name : Complexe multisport de Saint-Georges
Location : Ville de Saint-Georges, Québec, Canada
Client : Centre de services scolaire de la Beauce-Etchemin et la Ville de Saint-Georges
Architects : ABCP architecture en consortium avec Marie-Lise Leclerc architecte + Bilodeau Baril Leeming architectes
Lead Architect : Michel Veilleux, senior architect and partner, ABCP architecture
Engineers : EXP et WSP/Tetra
Landscape architecture : ABCP architecture
Wood suppliers:
Wood: Structure Fusion
Installation: Les Charpentistes
Budget: 30,4 M$
End of project: June 2023
Photographer: Stéphane Groleau
The Saint-Georges Multisport Complex in Quebec, Canada, is a compelling example of how thoughtful design can create functional and community-oriented spaces. Connected to the Saint-Georges High School, this new facility was developed through a collaboration between ABCP architecture, Marie-Lise Leclerc architecte, and Bilodeau Baril Leeming architects. From its wood-centric structure to its focus on natural light, the complex brings together sustainable design principles and practical functionality.
Blending Old and New with Seamless Integration
The Saint-Georges Multisport Complex successfully merges modern design with the existing architecture of a 1974 high school building. Extending parallel to the outdoor track, the complex uses the site’s sloping terrain to create multiple ground-level entrances, ensuring accessibility for all users. The design subtly echoes the high school’s original structure through its concrete base and layered levels, incorporating a fully glazed ground floor and a perforated aluminum cladding that mimics the older building’s buttressed angles. This integration allows the new construction to respect its surroundings while enhancing the overall environment.
Emphasizing Light and Open Space
One of the standout features of the complex is its use of natural light. The design prioritizes bright, welcoming spaces with extensive glazing, skylights, and large openings. The double gymnasium benefits from north-facing windows and a perforated aluminum facade that diffuses sunlight, creating an even and comfortable brightness. In the pool area, a 10-lane semi-Olympic pool and a recreational pool are surrounded by large bay windows, offering views of the surrounding landscape while filling the space with daylight. A wooden tiered staircase in the heart of the complex doubles as both seating and a social area, connecting different levels visually and functionally.
Sustainability Through Design and Materials
The Saint-Georges Multisport Complex showcases a commitment to sustainability, notably through its extensive use of wood. The facility’s massive wooden beams span impressive distances, with cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels enhancing both the structure’s strength and its environmental credentials. The wood not only adds warmth to the interior spaces but also sequesters significant amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to the building’s overall sustainability goals. Triple-glazed curtain walls, efficient mechanical systems, and energy recovery technologies further enhance the building’s performance, exceeding Quebec’s energy code requirements and reducing both energy costs and carbon emissions.
A Community Hub with Architectural Quality
Since its completion in 2023, the Saint-Georges Multisport Complex has quickly become a key fixture in the community. The project’s architectural quality and attention to detail have been recognized with awards, including the Public Award at the 2024 Ordre des Architects du Québec’s Excellence Awards. The facility’s layout and design choices promote social interaction and inclusivity, from the accessible pool entries to the versatile meeting and study areas. The complex represents a new standard for how institutional architecture can serve both practical needs and aesthetic aspirations while fostering community spirit.
The Saint-Georges Multisport Complex is a prime example of how architecture can harmonize tradition and innovation, delivering a space that is as welcoming as it is forward-thinking.
