Aedifica + Adhoc Architects: Winner of Architect of the Year Awards 2020. Canoe is a major and inclusive property development project for the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, located in the east end of the island of Montreal with the Olympic Stadium as its beloved anchor. The 242,000-square-foot site (about 5.5 acres) is within walking distance of two metro stations and is adjacent to a working-class neighbourhood with a lot of infrastructure for families.

The project aims to create an open living environment that will focus on exchange, innovation, and appropriation of public spaces with an exemplary sustainable design approach focusing on the needs of tomorrow. This mixed-use project is intended to accommodate approximately 650 condo units, 200 rental units, 158 units for social housing and 60,000 to 80,000 square feet of retail space.

Residential buildings will range in size from three, four, six, eight, ten and twelve storeys and are organized around an urban promenade that will enhance the relationship between Canoe’s residents, the neighborhood residents, and visitors. Contextually sensitive, Canoe’s range of retail (convenience stores, grocery store, pharmacy, cafés/bistro, daycare and much more) further supports the building’s connection with the neighborhood and its contemporary urban lifestyle.

The project will feature a mix of 20% community housing, of which 1/3 will be dedicated to families, 20% rental housing and a whole range of affordable housing for families. From the outset, at the start of the planning phase, 10% of the site was set aside for a new linear park, while green spaces and public places account for 50% of the total space.

The development will integrate innovative sustainable design practices in several key areas, including building envelope, residual materials management, energy efficiency, urban agriculture & beekeeping and waste management. Green mobility is another important component of the project with a significant offer for car sharing, active and public transportation, and infrastructure for electrification of 100% of the parking areas.

An open approach integrating community outreach workshops has been undertaken, generating insights and opportunities to enhance the project’s scope and mix of components.

Firm || Aedifica + Adhoc Architects
Project Name || Canoe
Architect || Aedifica + Adhoc Architects
Architect of the Year Award Category || Mixed-Use Concept
Project Location || Montreal
Team || Aedifica, Adhoc Architects, Projet Paysage, Rachel Julien
Country || Canada
Photography ©Credit || ©Aedifica + Adhoc Architects

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Ædifica has been in business since 1985. Our integrated team of architects, designers, engineers, communicators and project managers, some 200 professionals in all, share a common goal: the creation of evocative and enduring spaces. Every project we undertake involves a solid partnership with the client – a crucial element for success.

Our accomplishments reflect a steadfast commitment to sustainable development and a firm conviction that design is a powerful tool to convey identity and articulate values.

Adhoc, is a Latin phrase meaning “for this“; Designed for a specific request, a situation, a problem to be solved, an opportunity to be seized. 

ADHOC architectes is a studio founded in 2014 by two architects with different personalities and a common vision of creating meaningful architecture through good design. The studio’s mission is to provide innovative architectural solutions which challenge the established conformity. An ADHOC-project must be memorable, inspiring, distinctive, aesthetic and functional.

ADHOC architectes aims to highlight the intrinsic elements of places and enhances them through innovative, contextual and poetic architecture.