The pavilion gradually decreases in height
as it retreats from the urban turbulence,
creating a cascade effect that enables the
museum to reach out toward the park at the
back while inviting the city in on the front.
A 20-metre cantilever announces the main
entrance of the Lassonde pavilion. Built using
a hybrid steel truss system, it accommodates
galleries completely uninterrupted by support
columns. The entrance opens out onto an
urban plaza that leads to a series of gateways
into the galleries, courtyard and auditorium.
A monumental spiral staircase of 79 stairs as
well as an exterior pop-out staircase of 40 stairs
provide spectacular views of the park, the city
and the museum. Within the gallery boxes,
mezzanines and overlooks link the temporary
and permanent exhibition spaces.
With its triple-glazed panels, comprised of a
layer of diffuser glass, two layers of fritting and
a low-emissivity coating, the building's interior
is bathed in light while the façade reflects the
surrounding greenery. The fritting's pattern
density provides sufficient solar shading to
satisfy LEED's mechanical cooling requirements.
Thanks to the fritting and diffuser glass, as
well as the skylights and carefully curated
fenestration, a translucent effect permeates the
space, transforming the cultural institution into
a natural extension of Battlefields Park.
Archetech - Page 68
The new building links to the existing museum
complex by a 130.6 meters long passageway.
By virtue of the sheer length and change in
elevation, the tunnel creates a series of linked
rooms with a dramatic range of spatial and
lighting conditions. Each of these serves as a
distinct gallery condition, a series of spatially
diverse yet visually interconnected volumes
that lead the visitor, as if by chance, through the
complex.
The Lassonde pavilion is being launched with
three days of festivities. Commissioned to
endow the provincial capital with a worldclass building, the consortium of OMA and
Provencher_Roy have conceived a superb
work of architecture that subtly, perhaps
even stealthily, and certainly successfully,
strengthens the links between the disparate
elements of the site. The structure creates a
stunning environment for showcasing the
Musée's collections, and beckons visitors to
discover art, creativity and local talent, and to
celebrate them.
www.provencherroy.ca
Photo credit: Bruce Damonte