BEACONSFIELD, QC, July 19,
2024 /CNW/ - Beaconsfield City Council has officially
endorsed the decision of the multidisciplinary architectural
contest jury to select Lemay-Bouthillette
Parizeau-Elema for the design of the multipurpose cultural
centre for the IMAGINE Centennial project. During its meeting on
July 15, Council mandated the
administration to continue the process with a view to awarding,
this fall, the contracts for the preparation of plans and
specifications.
Launched in 2018, the IMAGINE Centennial project saw nearly 200
citizens participate in six public consultation sessions in 2019. A
citizen committee, led by two elected officials, presented a report
and made recommendations in June
2019. These recommendations guided the subsequent steps,
including the hiring of architect Philippe
Drolet in 2023 to oversee an architectural competition.
Additionally, a financial support of $3.1
million was granted by the provincial and federal
governments under the "Aide au développement des infrastructures
culturelles" programme. This grant allows Beaconsfield to begin the revitalization of
Centennial Park and Marina with the construction of a multipurpose
cultural centre estimated – as of 2024 – at around $18 million, plus taxes.
The architectural competition, a first for Beaconsfield, was conducted in two stages. As
announced last January, a jury composed of professionals from the
field was supported by a technical committee with expertise in
universal accessibility, estimating, and project management. Made
up of eight members, including several residents and experts of the
city, the jury met several times to recommend the winning team to
City Council.
Competition highlights
- Jury composed of three architects, two landscape architects, a
librarian, the Director of Culture and Leisure, and the Director of
Urban Planning
- Stage 1: analysis of 32 applications and selection of four
finalists
- Stage 2: production of detailed designs by the finalists and
analysis of project feasibility by the technical committee
- Selection of the winning team
The City salutes the 32 teams that submitted high-calibre
applications for this competition. The jury, co-chaired by
Anne-Marie Parent and Gavin Affleck, selected four finalists in April,
each presenting a unique architectural identity. During the public
hearings held on July 2, the
finalists presented projects that respect the natural character of
the site, highlight the waterfront landscape, and meet the needs of
the diverse users of the City's cultural spaces. The winning
project blends harmoniously into the picturesque landscape of
Centennial Park and responds best to the recommendations identified
in the Report on Public Consultations and Creative Workshops for
the Revitalization of Centennial Park and the Lord Reading
Property. Once completed, the project will provide citizens
with a unique experience in a bucolic setting.
The City would like to thank the members of the jury and the
technical committee, the professional advisor for the architectural
contest Philippe Drolet, the
professionals from the 28 other teams that submitted entries, and
the three other finalists for their excellent architectural
work:
- Chevalier Morales, with Vlan Paysages, Pageau Morel, Latéral,
Équipe Laurence
- in situ + DMA, with Vlan Paysage, Kelvin Emtech, Latéral,
Équipe Laurence
- Saunders Architecture and Bourgeois Lechasseur architectes,
with Option aménagement, Stantec
Detailed information about IMAGINE Centennial, the architectural
competition, and the designs of the four finalists is available on
ImagineCentennial.ca.
SOURCE City of Beaconsfield