Spread over three floors, the 7,120 m² building contains 32 classrooms, a movement skills room, a double-height gymnasium and several multi-purpose spaces offering great flexibility. Its innovative educational concept, based on grouping classes into “houses”, promotes co-teaching and creates shared, open and adaptable learning spaces that are both stimulating and suited to contemporary learning.
The structural and civil engineering design of this new elementary school focuses on sustainable and high-performance solutions. The design is based on an optimized hybrid steel-timber construction that makes the most of glue-laminated timber to create large, column-free spaces, contributing to both architectural quality and the comfort of its occupants.
CIMA+ was also responsible for the complete site development and municipal infrastructure. Advanced hydrological modelling was carried out to ensure responsible stormwater management and to promote the project’s seamless and environmentally sensitive integration into its surroundings.
Overcoming environmental constraints during the design phase
The presence of wetlands significantly reduced the buildable area and necessitated the complete relocation of the building once the design process was already underway. This major reorientation required close coordination with the client, local authorities and environmental regulators in order to comply with regulatory requirements, all while continuing to develop the project.
Technology and close supervision to ensure quality of execution
To address these challenges, the team utilized advanced technological tools to optimize the building’s layout without compromising environmental objectives or the project schedule.
The design teams’ ongoing involvement in monitoring the works fostered effective coordination among all stakeholders, ensuring that the quality of execution was maintained at every stage of the project.
The new École du Boisé school represents a promising venture for Carignan. It is a modern, sustainable and functional institution, designed to support student success while blending harmoniously into the surrounding environment.