After three days of analysis and deliberation, the jury of the OAQ’s 26th annual Awards of Excellence in Architecture, presented in collaboration with TD Assurance Meloche Monnex, unveiled the winners of its 26 awards and honourable mentions for 2011. The significant increase in the number of entries (131 projects compared with some 100 in past years) is a sign of the vitality of architecture in Quebec.

The pursuit of excellence was evident in the profession despite the many challenges to meet all the rigorous criteria. The jury analyzed the balance and integrity of the various elements of architectural quality and sustainability in their broadest sense. Jury members had their work cut out for them in assessing the entries. If the architectural projects were sometimes limited by economic, contextual and social constraints, they made greater strides than ever in creativity and fervour to face these challenges. Jury members appreciated the architects’ solutions and responses and recognized their achievements with these awards. 

Unveiling and public presentations 
The jury’s choice of winners was unveiled on January 13 at the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City as part of the program of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Université Laval’s School of Architecture. In an opening address about the practice of architecture, jury chair Lise Anne Couture, associate architect and co-founder of the firm Asymptote Architecture (NY), evoked the conceptual or contextual underpinnings of the creative process that link the various projects of her firm. As a follow-up to this unveiling, from February 1 to May 31 the public is invited to cast a vote at www.pea-oaq.com for their favourite project among the jury selections. The vox populi(voice of the people) will determine the architect and client most deserving of the Loto-Québec People’s Choice Award, to be announced in June. 

In the coming months as well, several public presentations will provide an opportunity to learn more about the winning projects and their architects. Special efforts will be made to attract youth between the ages of 7 and 17 who, like the adults, will be invited to cast a vote for their favourite projects. Results of this vote will determine the winner of the Youth and Architecture Vision Award, which will also be presented in June in partnership with the law firm of Joli-Cœur Lacasse. By casting a ballot, these young architecture fans will be automatically entered in the J’aime l’architecture ! / I love architecture!contest for a chance to win a host of prizes. Six lucky winners will be treated to a day in an architectural firm in their region. Adding to the experience, young people will be able to correspond with featured architects, ask questions and share comments with them throughout the voting period. 

Other activities open to the public includeSpotlight on Architecture bus tours onFebruary 26, organized in collaboration with the Centre for Canadian Architecture (adults $15), theArchitecture Marathon at the Grande Bibliothèque in Montreal that will showcase the architects of the winning projects in short presentations and public meetings on April 30, and the new travelling exhibit “literary tour of a winning architecture”, presented from April 12 to August 28 in the entrance hall of the Grande Bibliothèque and from September 13 to November 27 at the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City. As a bonus, everyone will be able to brush up on their knowledge of architecture by purchasing the booklet of this year’s winning projects, filled with beautiful photographs and informative texts. The booklet will be available as of April in several libraries, at some specialized bookstores, at the offices of the Ordre des architectes du Québec and online for $19.95. 

The Jury’s choices and the Architect in Action Award 
Projects submitted in competition must have been completed within the last two years. The 131 entries were received from across Quebec and Ontario (47% in the Montreal area, 27% in the Quebec National Capital region, 24% in other Quebec regions and 2% in Ontario). Among these, 26 prizes or honourable mentions were awarded in several categories of building types (institutional, commercial, residential, cultural, others) or fields more specifically related to contemporary architecture (recycling, conservation and restoration, universal accessibility and integration of the arts.). The list of prize winners appears below. 

An independent jury examined nominations for the Architect in Action Award. Instead of highlighting the architectural qualities of a building, this award, inaugurated in 2009, honours an architect whose actions enhance the profession of architecture and encourage adoption of best architectural practices that benefit society as a whole. In choosing the winner, the jury looks at the architect’s personal and professional career, impact and benefits of his actions, and innovative character of the process and interventions. This year’s Architect in Action Award recognizes the initiative and actions of Guillaume Lévesque, who was in charge of a First Nations project for the NGO Emergency Architects of Canada that helped renovate and build homes in the community of Kitcisakik in Abitibi. His intervention, along with that of other volunteers and members of Emergency Architects of Canada, contributed in an outstanding way to improving the living conditions of this Anishnabe (Algonquin) community, as well as encouraging the transfer of knowledge, promoting the autonomy of individuals and developing local skills. In the words of the jury members, “Guillaume Lévesque honours the profession. He has shown that architects can rally around and serve a cause. He has turned promises into action and concrete achievements.” 

Note that no prize was awarded in the following categories: institutional under $5M (no project qualified), cultural under $2M (no entry) and industrial under $5M (no entry). Information on the members of the Grand Jury and invited experts, the specialized jury in universal accessibility and the selection committee for the Architect in Action Award is available on the OAQ’s Awards of Excellence in Architecture website at www.pea-oaq.com (under Jury). 

List of 2011 Awards of Excellence in Architecture 

1st Prize
Institutional ($5M or more)
Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique de Montréal
4750 Henri-Julien St., Montreal
Architect: Saia Barbarese Topouzanov architects
Client: Université du Québec

2nd Prize 
Institutional ($5M or more)
Abbaye Val Notre-Dame
250 Chemin Montagne-Coupée, Saint-Jean-de-Matha
Architect: Atelier Pierre Thibault Inc.
Client: Cistercian community

1st Prize
Cultural ($2M or more)
Théâtre de Quat’sous
100 Pine Ave. East, Montreal
Architect: Les architectes FABG (Brodeur, Gauthier, Lavoie, architects)

1st Prize
Industrial ($5M or more)
Extension of the Centre de formation professionnelle Gabriel-Rousseau
1155 De la Rive-Sud Blvd, Lévis
Consortium of architects: Anne Carrier architect + Onil Poulin architect

2nd Prize 
Industrial ($5M or more)
Centre spécialisé de technologie physique du Québec
129 Parc-de-l’innovation St., La Pocatière
Consortium of architects: Bisson | associates + Carl Charron architect

3rd Prize 
Industrial ($5M or more)
Head office of Schlüter-Systems Inc. (Canada)
21100 Chemin Ste-Marie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue
Architect: DCYSA architecture & design

1st Prize 
Commercial (under $2M)
Vitrines habitées – Quartier des spectacles
1425 and 1485 Jeanne-Mance St., Montreal
Architect: Daoust Lestage Inc. architecture, urban design
Client: Ville de Montréal

1st Prize 
Commercial ($2M or more)
Université de Sherbrooke, new Longueuil campus
1050 Place Charles-Lemoyne, Longueuil
Consortium of architects: Marosi +Troy architects, Jodoin Lamarre Pratte and associates architects, Labbé architect

1st Prize
Residential (single family)
In collaboration with the Société d’habitation du Québec
La Cornette
Canton de Cleveland, Estrie
Architect: YH2, Yiacouvakis Hamelin, architects

2nd Prize
Residential (single family)
In collaboration with the Société d’habitation du Québec
Géométrie noire
St-Hippolyte, Québec
Architect: YH2, Yiacouvakis Hamelin, architects

1st Prize
Residential (multi-unit)
In collaboration with the Société d’habitation du Québec
Les Quatre Arbres
4878 Henri-Julien St., Montreal
Architect: Les Architectes Boutros + Pratte

2nd Prize
Residential (multi-unit)
in collaboration with the Société d’habitation du Québec
Living quarters of the Sisters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
605 Bowen St. South, Sherbrooke
Architect: acdf* architecture | urban planning | interiors (Allaire Courchesne Dupuis Frappier architects)

1st Prize
Interior Design (residential)
Résidence de la Congrégation
520 De la Congrégation St., Montreal
Architect: _naturehumaine (Plasse Rasselet architects)

1st Prize
Interior Design (commercial)
Scandinave Les Bains Vieux-Montréal
71 De la Commune St. West, Montreal
Architect: Saucier + Perrotte Architects
Client Pierre Brisson, President

2nd Prize
Interior Design (commercial)
Boutique Michel Brisson
1074 Laurier Ave. West, Montreal
Architect: Saucier + Perrotte Architects
Client: Michel Brisson, owner

1st Prize
Urban design
Place des Festivals – Quartier des spectacles
Jeanne-Mance St., Montreal
Architect: Daoust Lestage architecture, urban design
Client: Ville de Montréal

Jury mention (ex aequo)
Recycling or Conversion
in collaboration with RECYC-QUEBEC
Le 300 St-Paul
Quebec City
Architect: ABCP Architecture (Bergeron Gagné Moreau St-Pierre + associate architects), in collaboration with AtelierGuy architects
Client: Société du 300 St-Paul

Jury mention (ex aequo) 
Recycling or Conversion
In collaboration with RECYC-QUEBEC
Maison atelier du Moine Urbain
3625 St-Dominique St., Montreal
Architect: Gabriel Rousseau, architect
Client: Mario Lafrenais

1st Prize
Conservation and Restoration
Théâtre Denise-Pelletier
Architect: Saia Barbarese Topouzanov architects

1st Honourable Mention

Universal Accessibility
In collaboration with the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec and Société Logique
Marriott Hotel at Montréal–Trudeau Airport and the head office of Aéroports de Montréal
800 Place Leigh-Capreol, Montreal
Architect: Provencher Roy + Associés architects

2nd Honourable Mention

Universal Accessibility
In collaboration with the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec and Société Logique
Restoration of the Expo 67 Jamaican pavilion on Île Notre-Dame
Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal
Architect: Réal Paul architect
Client: Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau

Norman-Slater and Architecture Integration Award
Théâtre de Quat’sous
100 Pine Ave. East, Montreal
Artist: Hal Ingberg
Title of the work: Katsu
Architect: Les architectes FABG (Brodeur, Gauthier, Lavoie, architects)

Marcel-Parizeau Award
(Project under $250,000)
Résidence St-Hubert
5623 St-Hubert St., Montreal
Architect: _naturehumaine (Plasse Rasselet architects)

Award for Innovation and Potential to Shine Internationnaly
In collaboration with the Ministère du Développement économique de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation
Théâtre de Quat’sous
100 Pine Ave. East, Montreal
Architect: Les architectes FABG (Brodeur, Gauthier, Lavoie, architectes)

Les Affaires Perennial Award
Résidence André-Coindre (1965)
5130 Suzanne-Lamy, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
Architect: Jean-Marie Roy
Client: Corporation du Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy

Architects in Action Award
Guillaume Lévesque, architect, PA LEED, manager for the First Nations project, Emergency Architects of Canada 
presented in collaboration with Bernard McNamara, architect, former president and founding president of Emergency Architects of Canada.

The Ordre des architectes du Québec relies on the support of a large number of partners for the success of this program and wishes to highlight their involvement here. 

Major partners [who support the series of professional, public and cultural events]: TD Assurance Meloche Monnex [lead partner], Sico, Novus, Canam Canada, Hydro-Québec, Sun Life Insurance Company 

Associate partners [who present an award in a category]: Joli-Coeur Lacasse Avocats, the newspaper Les Affaires, Loto-Québec, ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation du Québec, Office des personnes handicapées du Québec, Société Logique, RECYC-QUÉBEC, Société d’habitation du Québec. 

Collaborators on production and distribution:Kawneer (a subsidiary of Alcoa), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Ville de Montréal’s Bureau du design, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Université Laval’s School of Architecture, the newspaper Les Affaires, the newspaper Métro, Kollectif, MP Reproductions, Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City, Volume2 / v2com. 

Closing ceremonies partners will be introduced in the fall during the presentation of honorary plaques and trophies at chosen locations. 

Information: 

Sylvie Champeau,
Public relations consultant
SCPGR Agency, Delegate producer for the Awards of Excellence in Architecture
[email protected]
www.scpgr.com
Tel. : 514.983.6547 

Ordre des architectes du Québec 
Pierre Frisko, Communications director
[email protected]
www.oaq.com 
Tel. : 514.937.6168