The Saidye-Bronfman Park Pavilion - an Exhibition of Sustainable Architecture

Architectural firm Cardin Julien has revealed the newly constructed Saidye-Bronfman Park Pavilion, which is a part of a significant redevelopment initiative for the Triangle sector in the Côte-des-Neiges district of Montreal. Situated within an expansive 8,600-square-meter park, the pavilion is accompanied by an arboretum, recreational spaces, a natural agora, and a public square featuring lively water fountains. The park has been named in honor of Saidye Bronfman (1897-1995), a notable Canadian philanthropist.

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Photo credit: © TARMAC - Damien Ligiardi

The pavilion helps to strengthen the identity link between the park and the surrounding neighborhood by providing gathering spaces for the people who live there. The design, guided by the location of the park, also creates a bridge between the topography and the building. In collaboration with the City of Montreal, Cardin Julien's bold design was intended to help define new aesthetic, sustainability, and accessibility standards for this type of municipal building.

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Photo credit: © Vincent Brillant Photographe

A response tailored to the needs of the community

The Saidye-Bronfman Park pavilion consists of a large multi-purpose room with a kitchen for holding various events, as well as a reading room and a self-service library. The pavilion also includes administrative offices, washroom facilities, including one that is accessible from outside, and a garage for maintenance equipment. A community organization is also designated to provide recreational services to the diverse clientele of the surrounding communities.

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Photo credit: © TARMAC - Damien Ligiardi

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Photo credit: © TARMAC - Damien Ligiardi

The strong form of the building - a reference to the Triangle area moniker - acts as a landmark, while being integrated with the new distinctiveness of the site. The topographical variations of the land echo the angular and dynamic band of the pavilion's metal façade. The architecture and the park are thus in constant dialogue.

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Photo credit: © TARMAC - Damien Ligiardi

Sustainable Design Strategies in Public Space

One of the objectives of the project is to provide the public with a showcase for the integration of sustainable development strategies into a municipal building. To achieve this, the building is equipped with a green roof accessible to users; in addition to its aesthetic qualities, this roof captures rainwater and helps reduce heat islands. Photovoltaic panels are installed on the south façade to supply the building with electricity.

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Photo credit: © TARMAC - Damien Ligiardi

The design team also used the new slope to install a passive air conditioning system (Canadian well), which is used to temper the air seasonally and enhance the use of natural ventilation. Underground, a geothermal loop provides heating and cooling for the pavilion. Its orientation and large roof offer shaded areas around the building and, thus, maintain a cool interior during the summer season. Finally, this pavilion is equipped with triple glazing on the curtain walls and benefits from a significant amount of natural light. These elements make the building energy efficient and provide users with a comfortable and pleasant experience.

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Photo credit: © TARMAC - Damien Ligiardi

A unifying place committed to the revitalization of the neighborhood

Once an entirely mineralized area, the new park is now composed of many vegetated zones. Thanks to the natural agora and the pavilion's green roof, the island of coolness created provides a beneficial effect in this densely occupied area. The goals of the project are to offer attractive and versatile spaces, while enhancing the greenery of a sector comprised of industrial and commercial buildings.

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Photo credit: © Vincent Brillant Photographe

The building aims to preserve and strengthen the community's sense of belonging by providing a gathering place in the heart of this key location in the Côte-des-Neiges district. The new geometry and the human scale of the landscaping give a prominent place to pedestrians, cyclists, and people with reduced mobility. By developing this inclusive park, it becomes an opportunity to create a new identity for the area. Its redevelopment will allow it to move from an industrial space to a living, breathing place.

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Photo credit: © Vincent Brillant Photographe

Certified as an Ecoresponsible Business by the Council of Sustainable Industries Council, Cardin Julien is proud to have contributed to the revitalization of this important sector of Montreal, while offering a window to sustainable architecture with this municipal building.

About Cardin Julien

Founded in 1992, and based in Montreal, Cardin Julien is an architectural firm that designs and carries out large-scale projects in the public and private sectors. The firm specializes in the design of public and cultural buildings serving the community. Guided by values of commitment, creativity, and partnership, the firm provides distinctive designs that integrate into their environment. The firm endevors to leave a mark on hearts and minds through the sustainability, innovation, and aesthetic appeal of its achievements.

As a winner of international competitions, Cardin Julien's major cultural achievements include the design of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium (Montreal, Canada, 2013, with Aedifica), the Planétarium de Strasbourg (France, 2023, with Frenak Jullien), and Cosmocité (Grenoble, France, 2023, with ARCANE Architectes).