Jury Comments:
This project is simple and bold and feels right. The trademark of these firms again comes through with a clear framework that can be traced back to the analytical process in such a way as to see the proposed solution as self-evident. A gap in the urban landscape is artfully repaired. The fabric is not only sewn together but the seam becomes a vital context for an institution as well as for daily life.
At a city scale, the project promises a new linear park which will serve as the front for the campus but more significantly as an important destination and distinctive place in its own right. The approach is powerful and in the best tradition of monumental city building.
At a more local level, streetscapes, promenades, courts and green roofs are wonderfully well proportioned and evocative. They provide a context, with a simple and rich vocabulary, which will serve as an impetus to the imaginative organization and development of new buildings as well as an infusion of new life on adjacent streets.
Faced with a chronic shortage of space and limited potential for adapting its existing buildings, the Université de Montréal wanted to develop a new centre of education and research. A new site would allow the university to pursue its mission while maintaining its high standards in these two fields. For this new campus, the university chose a site beyond the borders of its existing site, and in so doing, demonstrated its commitment to preserve the historical and natural heritage of Mount Royal.
