The Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) traded its Westmount offices for a building that is better suited to their needs in Montréal’s Angus Technopôle. The architectural firm Lemay aimed for a design that is completely suited to the OIIQ’s activities, values and contribution to the health sector. This project, with its innovative building materials, follows the principles of sustainable development.

An Innovative Ceramic Building Envelope

The new offices of the organization are wearing, just like its nurses, an immaculate white tunic.

The exterior is covered with ceramic ventilated cladding, a German product distributed in Canada by Ceragres.

Named “light and air cladding”, it owes its astonishing properties to a permanent catalyst, integrated to the ceramic’s enamel that is activated when exposed to light, oxygen and humidity. The result: a hydrophilic surface that uses rain water to eliminate dirt and microorganisms that accumulate on the cladding. This technology, called HT (hydrophilic tile), allows the OIIQ building cladding to effortlessly preserve its initial brightness. It then leads to significantly lower maintenance costs, a benefit that has a huge influence during the selection process.

One More Step Towards Sustainable Development

The architects chose ceramic ventilated cladding because of its contribution to sustainable development. This is a very efficient and durable material that combines functionality, aesthetic appeal and ease of use. It possesses antibacterial properties, no chemical agents and a hydrophilic surface that keeps the cladding looking bright and spotless, resulting in very low cleaning costs. Light, combined with the catalyst contained into the ceramic’s enamel, attract surrounding pollutants (nitrogen oxides NO and NO2) that are harmful to the environment. The cladding material improves air quality, eliminating pollution surrounding the OIIQ building, to the efficiency level of approximately one hundred trees. These are serious environmental benefits.

With respect to OIIQ’s fundamental values, Lemay (in association with Ceragres), contribute to a greener future, which affects the health and quality of life of each and every one of us, just like the nurses of Quebec do in their profession.

Technical information

Project: Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec

Where: Montreal, QC, Canada

Product: Ceramic Ventilated Cladding

Surface of cladding: 13,000 pi²

Architects: Lemay

Year: 2014

About Ceragres

For more than 25 years, Ceragres has been a leader in the ceramic industry, investing in design, expertise and innovation. Ceramic, natural stone, bathware and specialized product importer, Ceragres counts more than 200 employees, six Boutique Workspaces, a Ceragres-Les-Bains Boutique, one Ceragres Outlet and 60 Ceragres Tileshops across Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes. A reference in the architectural and design industry, Ceragres offers a complete range of diversified specialized products and a high quality technical customer service. 

About Lemay

Founded in 1957 as an architectural practice, Lemay is one of Canada’s leading integrated design services firms, merging architecture, urban design, interiors, landscape, engineering, sustainability and branding into a multidisciplinary and synergistic ensemble. With 10 offices worldwide (including a New York office since 2015) and ranked 79th according to the World Architecture (WA), Lemay is also one of Canada’s most creative and awarded firms, with over 300 awards and prizes. Leveraging its unique blend of creativity, capacity and expertise, Lemay champions its clients’ aspirations, enhances users’ quality of life and strives to build a brighter future for our communities.