Governor General's Medals in Architecture - 2020 Recipient | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Governor General's Medals in Architecture - 2020 Recipient

Drummondville Library
Drummondville,
QC
Award Category: 
Governor General’s Medals in Architecture

Chevalier Morales in consortium with DMA architectes

Lead design architect(s): 

Chevalier Morales in consortium with DMA architectes

Occupancy: September 7, 2017
Construction Budget: $21 million

Drummondville Library was developed so that it transposes the historical, cultural and poetic essence of the region into an architectural composition. Since its founding by a garrison of soldiers turned farmers, the city had developed an industrial economy through hydroelectric dams. After a difficult economic transition, Drummondville welcomes its library as a symbol and a synthesis of these redevelopment efforts. Attached to the municipal skating rink with which it maintains a close dialogue and an exchange of energy, the new library allows the surrounding public area to become a lively gathering place where culture and sports meet.

Jury Comment(s): 

“The jury applauds the local authorities who commissioned this detailed, delicate, and well-solved building. Placed next to a suburban hockey arena, the library uses stylize curves to great effect. The design benefits from robust visual and physical connections that unite architectural experiences inside the library to the landscaping. The all-white interior offers graceful swoops of walls and stairs all raked by sweeps of natural light.”

Jury members

Click for full version: 
Exterior view 2

PHOTO: Adrien Williams

Exterior Detail 1, Exterior Detail 2, Exterior Detail 3

PHOTO: Chevalier Morales

View of the stairs, Interior Detail

PHOTO: Adrien Williams, Chevalier Morales

View of the floor

PHOTO: Adrien Williams

Interior Detail 2, Interior Detail 3, Interior Detail 4

PHOTO: Chevalier Morales

Interior Detail 5, Interior Detail 6, Interior Detail 7

PHOTO: Chevalier Morales