Bibliothèque du Boisé in Montreal wins 2017 RAIC Green Building Award

Located in the Saint-Laurent borough in suburban Montreal, the Bibliothèque du Boisé has collected another honorable accolade. Today, the public library was announced as the recipient of the 2017 RAIC Green Building Award, which distinguishes a building that exhibits environmentally responsible design features and promotes the health and well-being of its users.

First opened in 2013, the 6,000 square-meter LEED-PLatinum library was the winning proposal by Cardinal Hardy + Labonté Marcil + Eric Pelletier architecte for an architecture competition by the City of Montreal. (Eric Pelletier architecte and Cardinal Hardy merged with Lemay in 2013 and 2014, respectively.) 

The award will be presented during the RAIC/OAA Festival of Architecture in Ottawa on May 24 to 27. 

Scroll down for more about the project from RAIC.

With ample natural light and warm touches of wood, the building comprises various spaces for the local community to use, including: a library, administration, exhibit space, museum archives, meeting rooms, youth areas, and a cafe.

As for sustainability strategies, the building has an integrated passive heating system that uses the heat accumulated in a glass prism and is then redistributed through a geothermal loop. Seventy-five percent of the library's floor area receives natural light, and the building's design incorporates the use of certified wood, low-emitting materials, and recycled or regional materials. Natural lighting is also combined with task lighting to help save energy. A storm water recovery system also supplies water to a nearby wetland.

Outside, trees were preserved and hoards of native plants were added around the library, including over 100 new trees and some 5,000 shrubs, ground cover, and climbing plants.

“The library offers a variety of beautifully lit and welcoming spaces throughout, maximizing daylight and views and the use of natural elements, such as wood, to create an environment that contributes to health and wellbeing,” the three-member jury commented. “Their approach to high-performance building through whole systems design and strategy has resulted in an impressive achievement. Not only does it have a remarkable dialogue with the urban site and natural habitat, but it also does so with a striking form.”

Want to see more inspiring library design? Check out the 2017 AIA/ALA Library Building Award winners!

The 2017 jury: Mona Lemoine, MRAIC; project manager, McLennan Design, Vancouver; Susan Gushe, FRAIC, managing director, Perkins +Will, Vancouver; Shafraaz Kaba, MRAIC, partner, Manasc Isaac Architects, Edmonton

All photos courtesy of RAIC.