College St-Hilaire Expansion, Southern Quebec, Montréal Development, Canadian Architecture, QC Building Project Images
College St-Hilaire Expansion in Southern Quebec
25 Aug 2022
Architects: KANVA
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Photos: James Brittain
College St-Hilaire Expansion, Canada
The history of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, in southern Quebec, is closely tied to the mountain and the river which the settling community followed. On its north side, the Collège Saint-Hilaire academic institution is anchored. Founded in 1964, the mixed private college is graced by exceptional surroundings, providing an environment conducive to learning and development for its young students.

Since its creation, the original school has been renovated several times, but without fully capitalizing on its strategic location at the base of the mountain. Characteristic of 1960s architecture, with the prevalence of horizontality and boxed windows as its architectural intent, the original building directs its views towards the river, the surrounding fields, and the city. In a desire to respect the architectural language of the school, the extension takes up the linearity, while integrating harmoniously into its context, and simultaneously modernizes the rather traditional layout of the learning spaces, classrooms, and circulation areas.
Endeavoring to respond to the programmatic and spatial needs of the school, the KANVA team first visited the site to define the project requirements. The use of wo...