GROUPE A / ANNEXE U has been selected for the 2020 National Urban Design Awards by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) in the Urban Design Plans category for its Intervention Plan for the Pedestrian and Cyclist Comfort and Safety in the Old Québec City (Vieux-Québec).

Through the development of street families based on the findings of a multi-criteria analysis, this intervention plan serves as a decision-making and design tool for the Old Québec area redevelopment. Based on the complete streets approach, it integrates proposals for the redevelopment of these groups of streets, an implementation plan over a 15-year horizon, and a multidisciplinary and participatory approach. The ultimate goal is to improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians and cyclists in Old Québec.

Regarding the project, the jury wanted to highlight this ambitious plan:

“Part study and part master plan, this was a well -researched, comprehensive, innovative and beautifully presented project. The plan reflects the unique history, topography, climate, and built form of old Quebec City and considers it from a cyclist’s perspective. While certainly not a standardized template, the plan provides an example of how other cities and towns might successfully plan for pedestrians and cyclists.

It is an extremely comprehensive infrastructure planning study whose novelty lies—in part—in the inclusion of non-traditional considerations such as topography, scenic views, and character, solar exposure, and heritage interpretation. The analysis is exhaustive and the rationale for the various proposed strategies and policies clearly articulated and communicated. The proposed site interventions, such as the treatment of intersections, are simple but effective and refreshingly responsive to contextualized conditions. The use of a permanent “workgroup” of various stakeholders throughout the project is commendable. An outstanding framework for guiding the improvement of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure at the scale of a large urban district—especially given the complexity and historical significance of its context.”

For ANNEXE U, it is a great success after having won a Certificate of Merit from the National Urban Design Awards in 2016 for its “parklet” Limoilou dans la rue. For several years, the firm has actively participated in improving living environments through architectural and urban design interventions throughout Quebec. This plan was developed in collaboration with Quebec City and with the contribution of CIMA+ (traffic/transportation) and Lemay (landscape).

Project Data 

Client: Québec City

Location: Old Québec City (Vieux-Québec)

Completion: 2018

Architects and urban designers: Groupe A / Annexe U

Project manager: Erick Rivard

Project Team: Keven Ross, Maxime Rochette, Alexandre Laprise et Rémi Morency

Contributors: CIMA+ (circulation/transport) et Lemay (paysage)

About GROUPE A / ANNEXE U

Founded in 1955, Groupe A is a pillar of longevity among the architectural firms in Quebec. The firm brings together five partners; Patrice Beauchemin, Rémi Morency, Érick Rivard, Élisa Bell-Nadeau and Anne-Marie Blais, as well as about 40 permanent employees. The firm mainly works on institutional and urban projects. With its urban design and urban planning division called Annexe U, Groupe A is recognized in Quebec as one of the most innovative firms in terms of land use planning, particularly for public spaces. Its unique approach is based on a multidisciplinary team of architects, urban designers, landscape architects, urban planners, built heritage specialists and researchers.