Opened this year, Montreal’s Maisonneuve Library, housed since 1981 in what once was a small, but prestigious city hall for the short-lived City of Maisonneuve, underwent a major architectural transformation.
The transformation blends its historical character with the modernity of the new spaces, which were created in its expansion from 1,240 to 3,594 m2 (13,347 to 38,685 sf).
In response to the growing need for upgrades, Montreal initiated a design competition in 2017, won by a consortium led by EVOQ Architecture and Dan Hanganu Architects (now part of EVOQ). Described by the competition jury as a “beautiful dance between eras,” the design preserves the 1912 building’s charm with glazed extensions, earning the 2023 Architecture Award from the Québec association of librarians and archivists.
Rejecting the traditional book-centric layout, the library now serves as a social hub. The architectural team prioritized restoring the historic building to its original splendour, preserving stone facades, the monumental doors, original plaster mouldings, wood panelling, and mosaic floors. The piano Nobile’s marble staircase and its two imposing stained-glass features were also carefully repaired.
The alignment of the new curtain wall and the rhythm of its brise-soleil were dictated by the building’s neo-classical colonnade. The contemporary “tower” element serves as the main entrance, emphasizing the library’s modern identity, while exterior stone steps now function as seating.
A deliberate void on each side of the former city hall serves as a reminder, offering stunning views of the columns. Steel portals and spatial voids highlight the transition from contemporary wings to the original structure’s subdued ambiance.
Highly efficient electromechanical systems, geothermal energy, radiant floors, and low-energy devices were integrated, aiming for LEED gold accreditation.
The curtain wall system, with solar protection and effective thermal breaks, contributes to optimal performance, ensuring thermal comfort with minimal energy consumption.
