The recently completed 1500 Métivier Street building, located in the heart of the new Miscéo district in Lévis, Quebec, integrates itself with ease in the center of this business community that forms the eastern urban development hub of Greater Lévis area. The four-floor building stands out from the tall buildings surrounding it, acting as a hyphen by linking the urban interfaces of varying heights around it, and by following the slight angular movement of the public road.

For the Exceldor cooperative, the search for a prestigious site for their headquarters offered a unique opportunity to establish themselves in this dynamic living environment. With its 400 owner-members, the agri-food cooperative decided on a location near the Conference Center to build a new building that would visually reflect the company's brand identity, breaking away from the traditional image of office buildings.

In term of volumetrics, 1500 Métivier Street acts as a link connecting nearby buildings. The subtle and stratified bends of the superimposed volumes create a dialogue with the neighboring buildings. Its smooth and transparent facades offer a sculptural, timeless, and contrasting expression. By demonstrating a discreet approach to the integration with the immediate environment, the glass exterior distinguishes itself from the surrounding masonry facades, asserting the building's identity.

Particular attention was given to the composition and movement of the façades, featuring alternating opaque and transparent zones. More specifically, the sequence of vertical openings is linked to the interior layout, which democratizes the distribution of natural light. The highly flexible floor plan organzation allows for easy modification of space usage, with conference rooms being able to substitute for offices or open areas.

The contemporary design of Exceldor's office areas offers open and bright workspaces and common areas. In this regard, large glass partitions divide the different spaces, allowing natural light to enter the heart of the building. Circulation is organized around a central core and a helical staircase connecting the building's top two floors. The layout of the upper floors was designed after the pandemic with the objective to promote staff collaboration and comfort, as well as the company's attractiveness for the employees.

From the beginning of the project, all members of the multidisciplinary team worked together to build a building of high quality, within the allowed budget and timeline, while always respecting the initial concept developed by the architecture firm. Throughout the course of the project, the innovative technical solutions of each member of the interdisciplinary team were encouraged, contributing to the level of quality obtained. It was this collaboration among all that made the project a success, from conception to completion.

Awards and honors

• Architecture Masterprize 2023 : Honorable mention
• Grands prix du design - 16th edition : Commercial building / Office building (< 5 stories) : Bronze certification
• Grands prix du design - 16th edition : Special awards / Architecture + Glass : Silver certification