Gérald-Godin CÉGEP Addition

Sited in a magnificent locale on the banks of Montreal’s Prairie River in the town of Sainte-Geneviève, CÉGEP Gérald-Godin has enjoyed considerable growth thanks to its new technical programs. The school was established in 1999 within a former novitiate that originally belonged to the Pères de Sainte-Croix to which a contemporary extension and performance hall were added by Saucier-Perrotte Architects. In 2019, EVOQ Architecture was mandated to build a new addition along the north façade and to build a mezzanine level within the existing cafeteria.

In addition to showcasing a remarkable dialog between its heritage and contemporary architecture, the site’s outdoor spaces benefit from the exceptional quality of the local landscape. By introducing the new extension within the bank bordering the rear facade of the original stone building, the project seeks to minimize its impact on the landscape and delicately preserve the existing architectural relationship, retaining its individuality and architectural integrity.

The primary challenge arising from the new addition’s discreet placement is the lack of natural light. The new building will be almost entirely below grade along three of its exterior elevations and several strategies had to be put in place in order to deliver light from above and to open views to outside. A double-height space, the Agora, surmounted by a glazed rooftop enclosure, allows sunlight to penetrate to the ground-floor level down through to the second level basement.

In order to minimize the impact on the existing buildings and to permit access to the Salle Pauline-Julien outside the CÉGEP’s regular hours, it was agreed to relocate the entrance under the central volume. This new space, rendered in glass, preserves the architectural treatment of the original carriage entrance and maintains the spatial continuity towards the courtyard; it moves on to progressively reveal a pavilion offering panoramic views of the river bank and provides access to the new green roof terrace.

Finally, a new mezzanine will be added in the existing cafeteria providing additional classroom space as well as office space for faculty.