Since its founding in 1976, the Institut Pacifique, a leader in conflict resolution and mediation for young people, has occupied the property located at 2901 Gouin Boulevard East, Montreal.

After 40 years of work, growth, and development, the community organization began to notice certain issues with its headquarters: a serious lack of space, difficulty reconciling the building’s various uses, fire safety concerns, an architecture that clashes with the occupants’ vitality, etc. The structure’s close quarters and disrepair constituted, above all, a significant obstacle to the organization’s social and educational contribution to the community.

Scarcity of land on the island of Montréal led the institute to opt for a major renovation and extension project. This decision allowed it to continue working within the local community, and to keep its property, which contains a natural treasure: the Île-de-la-Visitation Nature Park.

The original house

The building is part of the Ancien-Village-du-Sault-au-Récollet heritage site, which was designated as such by the City of Montreal in 1992, and the architectural concept aimed to restore the appearance of the original house and to highlight the nature park that borders the property to the south and west.

The original house’s geometry was recovered by demolishing the series of additions from the 1970s and 1980s that had been erected without any consideration of the area’s character. The new extension enclosed the house on the south and west facades, acting as a link between the existing built environment and the nature park. Numerous openings on the three levels of the new volume[É1] provide visual continuity with the landscape. The alignment of the north and east facades, the alignment of the parapet and cornice, the glassed-in spaces at the junction of the new and old sections, and the extension’s contemporary look—without resemblance to what was there before—were all conceptual choices that contribute to giving the house a defined identity. The colour scheme of the materials used on the exterior ensures that everything has a cohesive appearance, while the wood finish is testament to the desire to integrate with the natural context.

Inside, the original house’s geometry and architectural particularities were also showcased. Beneath the cathedral ceiling, a mezzanine was added to maximize the convertible floors. This space became one of the project’s key points of interest, with its double-height ceilings, natural light, bull’s-eye window, and exposed structure. On the home’s interior walls, where the extension joins the existing structure, alcoves made of reclaimed wood provide workspaces, waiting rooms, and places for impromptu meetings.

Happy coexistence between children and the administration

As a community organization, the need for room is immense, while the budget is limited. Each space had to be well thought-out and optimized to allow for multiple uses. A major challenge was to create harmonious coexistence between the organization’s administration and the areas designed for kids. At garden level, the children’s rooms were adjacent to the yard with a play area[É2], and the staff offices were located on the top floor. On the ground floor, where the entrance was located, that coexistence takes shape: the administrative reception area, the children’s reception area, the worker-parent-child room, the worker-child reflection area, etc. Each space was planned following an analysis of the movement patterns of the three main user types (management, staff, and children) in order to ensure a fluid, functional flow.

Architecture accessible for all

The Institut Pacifique’s new headquarters allow it to keep growing, developing, and helping the community. The organization can now reach and welcome more people in a building that’s safe, and which reflects its mission, whether through programs for young people, special events, or venue rentals. Having always been close to the community, Institut Pacifique can now be even more so!