Two RAIC Awards of Note

According to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), this biannual award considers a wide range of innovations: "the research and development and the applied use of new technology; unique adaptation of existing technology; new project delivery methods; new design processes; new details; or the development of new methods related to the construction process." For Lemay, in its collaboration with Atelier 21 on the Grand Théâtre de Québec, "the innovative glass casing is a delicate response to a complex problem." Moisture infiltration had damaged the precast concrete walls of the building designed by Victor Prus in 1970, threatening the historic mural by Jordi Bonet integrated into the concrete. For the RAIC, the most commendable part of the team's solution is the way it "leaves the landmark intact and perfectly visible."

"The Grand Theatre de Quebec demonstrates a host of notable innovations in the spirit of honoring the original Victor Prus building and sensitively protecting the existing degrading structure and Jordi Bonet mural. The new glass casing is quiet and understated, with a technical rigor that speaks to what must have been remarkable teamwork between the architects, engineers, and manufacturers. It skillfully addresses the challenges faced by the concrete façades and unique interior sculptural murals by developing from the exterior a meticulous envelope system and creating an in-between controlled environment. The team's choices throughout the process demonstrate how intelligent, quiet innovations can significantly extend the life of public buildings for the betterment of the community, climate, and environment."

Visit Lemay's office profile to learn more about the Grand Théâtre de Québec Preservation Solution.

This also biannual award, per the RAIC, "recognizes a narrative about buildings and cities that promotes the public's understanding of architecture and the role of architects." Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to the Present, edited by Elsa Lam and Graham Livesey, was published in 2019 by Canadian Architect magazine and Princeton Architectural Press. It covers fifteen years of Canadian architecture — from Expo 67 to the present — through fifteen original essays and hundreds of photographs and drawings. The retrospective is wide-ranging, covering buildings all over Canada, not just in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, aka the country's three largest cities. 

"The book Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to Present is a body of work representing Canadian Architecture from coast to coast diligently and completely compiled into one superb anthology. It is a timely piece that may take decades to replicate and or replace. In 15 chapters, these authors clearly explain the themes and regional trends that have shaped the country’s built form in this period – a period in which, as the editors suggest, a truly Canadian architecture was born for the first time. This assembly of expertise and regional knowledge allows the book to provide a depth of insight that no one individual could offer. Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to Present is a body of work whose diversity and variety are entirely Canadian."