Grand Théâtre de Québec - Addition of Structural Glass Shell
Client: Grand Théâtre du Québec
Architecture: Lemay + Atelier 21
Architectural photos credit: Stéphane Groleau
Awards:
- Winner - 2019 Awards of Excellence of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) - Québec - Buildings - "Renovations" Category
- Winner - 2021 Awards of Excellence in Architecture of the Ordre des Architectes du Québec - "People's Choice Award" and "Grand Prize for Excellence Award"
- Winner - 2021 Canadian Green Building Awards by SABMag - "Existing Building Upgrade" Category
- Winner - 2021 Awards of Excellence of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada (RAIC) - "Innovation in Architecture" Medal
- Platinum Winner ("Special Award / Heritage Conservation, Restoration & Presentation" Category) + Gold Winner ("Public Building / Cultural Building" Category) - 2021 Grands Prix du design
- Winner - 2021 Architecture Masterprize - "Restoration and Renovation" Category
- Gold Winner ("Glass in Architecture" Category) + Silver Winner ("Façade" Category) - 2021 World Architecture News Awards
- Winner - 2021 AN Best of Design Awards - "Restoration and Preservation" Category
- Gold Winner - 2021 IDA Design Awards - "Renovation" Category
The original Grand Théâtre de Québec building, constructed in 1971, has experienced significant deterioration of its precast concrete façade. The solution selected to remedy this erosion is the installation of a structural glass envelope to cover the entire perimeter of the existing building. This innovation will preserve the heritage of the building, the integrity of the mural by Jordi Bonnet with the words of the poet Claude Péloquin embedded and showcase its brutalist architecture, immortalized by architect Victor Prus.
ELEMA was mandated to design the glass systems of this new transparent envelope with an approximate surface area of 5,900 m2 (63,500 ft2). The specifications of each glass type and thickness was selected according to its application in the façade (horizontal, vertical, corner or angle). A dozen different assemblies for the glass were designed.
TECHNICAL CHALLENGES :
- System designed to consider operating range from -30 ° C (-22 ° F) to 80 ° C (176 ° F).
- Glazing and fastening designed to ensure resistance to wind, seismic, thermal and snow loads.
- Design of a joint system between the glasses with a width of 31 mm (1.22 in).
NOTABLE SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIONS :
- Design of mounting plates made entirely of aluminum to avoid the risk of corrosion.
- Fastening system designed to avoid piercing and glass cutting.
- Custom design of the entire facade fastening system to respect the architectural intent.
- Use of 2x10 and 10+12 tempered laminated glass with a 1.52 mm (0.060 in) SGP interlayer film.
To see this project via Google Street View…
To consult the web camera of the construction site (tab "Travaux en direct") ...
PRESS REVIEW :
- JOURNAL DE QUÉBEC - "Une murale à préserver"
- LE SOLEIL - "Un cube de verre pour «encapsuler» le Grand Théâtre"
- RADIO-CANADA - "Un écrin de verre pour le Grand Théâtre de Québec"
- LE SOLEIL - "Prix d’excellence en architecture: l’écrin de verre du Grand Théâtre éblouit"
- VOIR VERT - "La réfection de l’enveloppe du Grand Théâtre de Québec primée par l’IRAC"