Gypsum board has contributed to a more sustainable and durable interior for the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet, a 47-year-old multi-purpose sports arena in Sherbrooke, Québec. The remodel, completed this past summer, included use of durable gypsum board that actively removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) circulating indoors, trapping them inside the material.

The 4328-seat facility was designed by Bilodeau Baril Associés Architectes. The location also includes a baseball stadium, field for soccer or football, and the city’s public pool.

“Sustainability goals were important, but we also had to make sure that the gypsum specified would meet the performance demands of the design,” architect Nicolas Bilodeau said.

Approximately 1600 sheets of gypsum board were used to outfit much of the building’s interior. The 15.9-mm (5/8-in.) gypsum board provides moisture and mould resistance as well as removal of VOCs—specifically formaldehyde and other aldehydes—from the air. They also contain a specially designed fibreglass reinforcement to provide durability in high-traffic areas prone to hard impacts and penetrations.

The material complies with:

• ASTM C1396, Standard Specification for Gypsum Board;
• ASTM C1629, Standard Classification for Abuse-resistant, Non–decorated Interior Gypsum Panel Products and Fiber-Reinforced Cement Panels; and
• Canadian Standards Association (CAN/CSA)-A82.27, Gypsum Board.

The newly remodelled arena is now home to the Sherbrooke Phoenix—the newest franchise of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). To better accommodate the team, the renovation also included the addition of 32 luxury boxes, 18 galleries, and an increase in general seating.

Further elements to the renovation project are:

• construction of interior terraces;
• remodelled concessions area;
• replacement of boards and glass;
• improved locker rooms; and
• accessibility additions such as an exterior ramp.

“The refurbished stadium represents the high standards and pride we take in our city,” said Jean Désourdy, construction project manager of the city of Sherbooke.

Amy Lee is manager of marketing communications and sustainability for CertainTeed Gypsum. Lee has 15 years of experience in all aspects of technical marketing, most recently focused on sustainability and external communications in the construction market. She can be reached at amy.lee@saint-gobain.com.