The Paddocks renovation at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, designed by Les Architectes FABG, recently won the Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence. The journal of record of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada announced the winners of the 51st edition of the awards on Dec. 7.
As part of the renewal agreement for hosting the Canadian Prix from 2015 to 2029, the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau (SPJD) committed to contributing to the renovation and expansion of Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve’s infrastructure.
The jury highlighted several aspects of the project that supported its selection, including the complex logistics of the project, which had only 10 months to be completed and as such was assembled using pre-fabricated parts, including steel beams and columns, wood panels and demountable partitions; the building’s iconic architectural signature, including its distinguishing geometric roof structure; and the use of local materials in the sustainable development of the facility, including Nordic Structures by Chantiers Chibougamau’s cross-laminated, bonded timber products, the installation of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof, the green-roof opened terrace, and the use of open spaces, which eliminate the need for air conditioning.
Construction of the facility is currently underway, and is on track to meet the deadline. The project is being funded by investments of $18 million by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’habitation (MAMH) and $41 million by the City of Montréal
“We wanted to create a modern building that meshes perfectly with Parc Jean-Drapeau’s natural environment, while making sure it meets the technical and technological criteria related to the requirements of Formula 1”, said Éric Gauthier, partner-architect at Architectes FABG, in a press release. “It’s a real honour to receive such a prestigious award for a project of this magnitude.”
“The SPJD will now have international calibre infrastructures which will consolidate the City of Montréal’s status as a major player in the Formula 1 Championship,” added Renaud Coulombe, Board Chair of the SPJD.
