DESJARDINS SPORTS COMPLEX | Yan Laplante

The new Desjardins Sports Complexe of Saint-Louis Academy is an expansion of the existing building - secondary pavilion with the objective of improving the school's sports facilities. The project includes a triple gymnasium of 39m x 68m allowing the practice of many sports offered by the Sports Studies program, i.e. the Arsenal of Académie Saint-Louis: futsal, soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc. It includes a vast atrium that acts as the heart of the project, a bleacher in the upper part of the gymnasium that can accommodate nearly 200 spectators, a VIP room for various receptions, a multi-purpose room as well as complementary facilities to the gymnasium including six locker rooms and a locker room dedicated to soccer. A multi-purpose room and three classrooms (including one overhanging room on the second floor and towards the wooded area) complete the needs for the academic aspects.

The design approach developed by the architects for the project stems from a desire to open the sports facilities to the immediate environment to maximize views of the nearby Ercarpement Park wooden area and to provide bright and distinctive interior spaces. The integrated atrium along the bleachers and gymnasium is a multipurpose space; in addition to facilitating circulation within the complex, its layout is suitable for various gatherings as well as for student study. The abundant fenestration along the atrium provides natural light to the entire complex (bleachers, gymnasium, and locker room corridor on the lower level) as well as a view of the wooded area.