In order to bring together three nun congregations in the Trois-Rivières region under one roof, the LOKIA Group, with Réseau Sélection, commissioned ELEMA to design the structure of a new building with an area of ​​26,950 m2 (290 000 ft2) on eight floors, located close to the Saint-Maurice River.

The building has 170 units for nuns, 60 care units, and 60 units for lay people. Occupants can benefit from approximately 1,950 m2 (21,000 ft2) of common areas that includes a pool, exercise room, movie theatre, pharmacy, medical office, and more.

The building also contains an underground parking with 45 parking spaces. The design and construction of the building is under a “fast-track” mode to deliver the building as soon as possible to accommodate the nuns.

Technical challenges :

• Development of a structural frame (position of columns and bracing walls) to maximize living spaces and views of the natural environment (noticeably of the Saint-Maurice River) while optimizing structural components to save on the quantity of materials and construction costs;
• Solve geotechnical problems with the laboratory engineer regarding the poor quality of the soil in place through risk and value analyses in order to design effective foundations and optimize the volumes of excavation and backfill;
• Accelerated design and planning schedule to allow rapid mobilization on site;
• Provide efficient services during construction for a project located in a remote city, particularly regarding pre-concrete pour inspections.

Press reviews :

• RADIO-CANADA - Un projet immobilier destiné notamment aux religieuses prend forme à Trois-Rivières
• CONSTRUCTO - Groupe Lokia : un chantier en mode accéléré