Grande Hermine Primary School

This innovative primary school, designed and built in conjunction with Bisson Associés, was completed in early 2008 after an accelerated construction process. The design and construction of this urban integration project in Old Limoilou were based on sustainable development principles, and the school obtained LEED certification in September 2008, making it the first primary school in Quebec to be registered with the Canada Green Building Council.

Numerous LEED strategies were used: a green roof over part of the building, lights that automatically turn off when rooms are unoccupied, controlled water levels in toilets, and more. Materials with a minimum percentage of recycled matter and reduced amounts of air contaminants were preferred, and to support the regional economy and limit the environmental impact of transporting materials, priority was given to those that had been extracted, recycled, or manufactured within 800 kilometers of the site.

The school designed to accommodate 350 children features a large central foyer where students can gather and temporary exhibits be displayed. It also contains administrative offices, an after-school child care service, 18 classrooms, and a gymnasium. The library, with its full-length windows, provides views of the outside and the main foyer, and boasts distinctive metal siding that sets the tone for the exterior volume and forms a porch for the main entrance.