Architects design $160 million Montreal transport centre to meet environmental objectives Covered transport centre seven football fields long Canadian Design and Construction Report Staff writer Now 75 per cent completed, the $160 million STM’s Stinson Transport Centre will open in 2014, setting a new standard for excellence for transport centres across Canada, not only from an environmental perspective but also for its approach to urban integration, say the proj- ect’s architects. Lemay’s Pierre Larouche (principal partner – architec- ture and design) and Michel Lauzon (principal partner – creation) said in a news release the project’s goal in- cludes “building links to the community.” The centre stands out for its integration with the sur- rounding urban environment, and for its reduced ecolog- ical footprint, the news release says. “Its unique feature is the immense roof, conceived essentially as a fifth façade and composed of strips of green space and enor- mous skylights in the form of trusses that echo the mesh of roads in the neighbourhood below. It stretches the length of seven football fields. To limit the noise and the sight of such a high concentration of buses, the new building was designed as a fully enclosed structure, cov- ered by a 35,000 sq. m. roof.” 28 – Fall 2013 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report Furthermore, the architects say they were able not only to preserve 230 trees on the site, but designed it to plant 600 more. This will revitalize an industrial landscape and improve the environment, they said. Lemay’s architect-designers saw the project as an op- portunity to create added value in this part of the St. Lau- rent borough, Lauzon said. The ultra-modern centre will become a natural extension of the sector residents' iden- tity. The care given to urban integration also led Lemay to include a public square and parking for bicycles and car sharing open to the public. Bus movements will be confined to the building's interior. In the architects’ view, this space will be a good place not only to work, but to live. “We wanted to create a transport centre that embod- ies our commitment to sustainable development and maintaining a constant dialogue with citizens,” said Jo- celyn Leblanc, the STM’s project director. The Stinson Transport Centre will be able to accom- modate 300 vehicles, including many articulated buses, and 800 people. The project’s designers are aiming to win LEED certification for the building. The project is on track to be completed in December 2013.