Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker

Cartierville Y Centre

Cartierville Y Centre
© Marie-Josée Gagnon

CARTIERVILLE Y CENTRE

Daoust Lestage

ARCHITECTS
Daoust Lestage

PHOTOGRAPHS
Marc Carmer, Marie-Josée Gagnon

AREA
88 ft²

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Montreal, Canada

CATEGORY
Community Center

PLACEMAKING

The Y Centre is a pavilion glowing through a screen of vegetation. Located in an economically depressed neighborhood, the building becomes a beacon in the urban landscape.

At night, the signature lighting and large glazed openings invite the community to take part in civic and athletic activities. By day, the white concrete block facade is a festive marker on a park-like site.

Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marie-Josée Gagnon

RESTITCHING THE URBAN FABRIC

The building splits into two volumes each connected to distinctly oriented North and South urban fabric, thus creating a delaminated central spine.

The North and South wings become two level, inhabited sports plateaus housing the gym and 25m pool, respectively. 

The play of the North/Gym Wing opens the building towards the Laurentian Boulevard to the west, funneling the public into the heart of the Centre.

Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marie-Josée Gagnon

The interior intersection of north-south and east-west circulation formalizes the urban framework inside and out.

TRANSPARENCY + VISUAL CONNECTIONS

The entrance lobby, and main circulation space, is the connector of the North-South volumes, forming an interior pedestrian street. The two-toned entry hall spatializes the intended program of the space.

Separating circulation and more social reception and viewing areas all visually connected to the adjoining fitness spaces. Full height interior glazing reflects the language of the exterior and allows a rapid reading of the program.

Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer

This interiorexterior transparency creates visual continuity from floor to floor and indoors and outdoors.

On the lower level of the southern volume, the pool deck extends West continuing the ground plane through the building to the outside and up to the level of the street.

To the north, the track surrounding the upper perimeter of the gym projects the runner into nature and the lobby of the Centre.

Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marie-Josée Gagnon

SIGNATURE LIGHTING

Throughout the building, signature lighting highlights kinetic movement. The lighting creates rhythms specific to the use of the space and responds to the intersection of the circulation spaces.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

From the urban gestures to the architectural resolution, the Y is designed with a holistic approach to sustainability.

At the level of the site, the pavilion setting reduces parking and creates a signature landscape. In combination with the white facade and white roofing membrane the heat island effect is reduced and a geothermal system completes the sustainable strategy.

Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer

SHOWCASING COMMUNITY LIFE

The architecture also strives to foster sustainable communities. The orientation on the site and transparent facade invite the public to become a part of the community and of the Y.

The pool and gym are viewed from above when entering the linear ground floor lobby. On the upper level, a track, studio, fitness centre and multifunction rooms are arranged on either side of the building's spine.

Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer

These spaces benefit from open views to each other as well as elevated views towards the lobby, pool and gym below showcasing community life. As a result of the generous transparency of the spaces, both inwards and outwards, the Y Centre projects a genuine desire for openness to the community.


Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer
Cartierville Y Centre
© Marc Carmer


Cartierville Y Centre
Courtesy of Daoust Lestage
Cartierville Y Centre
Courtesy of Daoust Lestage


Cartierville Y Centre
Courtesy of  Daoust Lestage
Cartierville Y Centre
Courtesy of Daoust Lestage

Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker
T +1 514 9820877
Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker
3575 Boul. Saint-Laurent #710, Montréal, QC H2X 2T7, Canada