The jury chaired by Dan S. Hanganu has selected the team of Atelier Big City, Fichten Soiferman et Associés and L’ŒUF as winner of the architectural design competition for the future Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Cultural Centre.
Construction of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Cultural Centre comes under the 2008-2011 Agreement on the Cultural Development of Montréal. The library component benefits from the joint financial support of the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine du Québec and the City of Montréal.
“The public presentation of the finalist projects in this architectural competition allowed citizens to appreciate the visions and ideas of the various teams, and of the winning team in particular,” says Christine St-Pierre, Québec Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women. “I congratulate Atelier Big City, Fichten Soiferman et Associés and L’ŒUF for their inventive spirit. They have produced a concept that will make this a truly valuable cultural centre that will meet the needs of the community.”
Helen Fotopulos, Montréal Executive Committee Member Responsible for Culture, Heritage, Design and the Status of Women, expressed delight at this new step forward in architecture. “As a UNESCO City of Design, we have a responsibility to develop a cultural landscape immersed in design and modern architecture, with a view to enhancing Montrealers’ living environment,” she says. “By holding this architectural competition, we have also enabled local creators to make their talent better known, and this helps strengthen Montréal as a cultural metropolis.”
Michael Applebaum, Vice-Chair of the City of Montréal Executive Committee and Mayor of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Borough, stated: “Culture begins right next door. The Borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce has a responsibility to provide residents with access to establishments where knowledge is cultivated. The planned NDG Cultural Centre is intended to be a place of learning that is consistent with the history of the Benny Farm neighbourhood.”
Susan Clarke, Councillor for Loyola district, expressed enthusiasm for the project. “The proposal that was selected meets the needs of the neighbourhood’s growing population. This new cultural facility will be a gathering place where residents can meet, enjoy and enrich themselves.”