Last night, at the Plaza Centre-Ville in Montreal, our team had the pleasure of attending the second gala evening of the 17th edition of the Grands Prix du Design, celebrating outstanding achievements in the fields of architecture, construction, real estate, photography and landscaping.
We are thrilled to announce that Diamond Schmitt/LemayMichaud has won a Platinum Laureate in the Architecture category, Concept & Unbuilt, for the New Vic at McGill University project.
This award recognizes the boldness and innovation of this large-scale project, which will transform the historic site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital into an international center for interdisciplinary research and education focused on sustainability and public policy.
The evening was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not only our achievements, but also those of all the creators and innovators who are transforming our built environment.
Project Overview
With the New Vic project, a portion of the former hospital complex is being transformed into an international centre for interdisciplinary research and teaching focused on the urgent task of healing the planet as the new home of Sustainability Systems and Public Policy at McGill. Diamond Schmitt/Lemay Michaud’s sustainability-driven design unites rehabilitation of the site’s heritage buildings with the creation of new, open and accessible spaces, restoring public access to Mount Royal and providing critical infrastructure to implement McGill’s ambitious vision of innovation in service to society.
Diamond Schmitt/Lemay Michaud’s design for the New Vic celebrates and restores the site’s historic spaces, complementing the original architecture and landscaping with expansions that increase light and access while achieving LEED Gold and WELL Gold environmental standards.
Following its original construction in 1893, the site has since been extensively developed, obstructing sightlines and access to the mountain. Transformation of the site will be achieved through restoration and reuse of heritage wings, as well as the construction of a new 350,000-square-foot research and teaching facility designed to integrate harmoniously with the site’s natural topography.
The forecourt landscape will be re-established, with a new entrance pavilion leading into teaching, community, and event spaces below, and open, accessible connections across the site and to the mountain will be restored.
To learn more about the New Vic project, please visit https://www.mcgill.ca/newvic/.
