Montreal-based Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes presents one of its latest projects, the first milestone of the Q01 campus in Lévis, Quebec. This project by Quebec-based QScale, whose mission is to design world-class computer processing centres that are part of a sustainable development approach, houses high-performance infrastructure designed to meet the technological needs associated with the deployment of artificial intelligence.

In addition to high-density server rooms and related facilities, the QScale campus includes an energy recovery and waste heat recovery system that could, for example, meet the needs of an adjacent agricultural greenhouse project. This first building, with a surface area of 24,280 m², also includes the company's head office in a five-storey section of the building, featuring an exposed timber structure.

Shared vision and a sustainable approach

The project team succeeded in realizing the client's vision of an exemplary project in terms of sustainable development, carbon footprint reduction, and the use of local resources and products. The desire to give the site a Quebec identity, and the dominance of Quebec expertise within the project team, provided the impetus for the development of a unique architectural signature. To that end, the wood structure of the head office section is visible from the moment one enters the site, and is apparent from almost everywhere, thanks to the glass curtain wall design and open-plan office layout. The result is a totally unusual architecture for a computer processing centre.

Collaboration and consultation were at the heart of the construction process, both in the choice of materials and practices, and contributed to achieving the objective of using wood structurally and making it visible. Thus, architects, engineers, suppliers, and contractors, all guided by the client's vision and firm commitment to the extensive use of wood, proposed innovative solutions that departed from standard practices, and together developed the best strategies for implementation.

For example, the main beams were cantilevered beyond the columns to allow for a peripheral circulation area; the curtain wall in this part of the building is glazed with electrochromic glass, adapting throughout the day according to light, glare, and energy use. In addition, close coordination between the architects and engineers ensured the harmonious integration of all visible electromechanical elements into the wood frame. Their rhythmic positioning, the choice of a uniform white colour, and exceptional quality control of the implementation have resulted in a warm, pure office environment that enhances the wood structure.