HEC Montreal's Hélène Desmarais Building, a contemporary face for tomorrow's leader!

Members-only event

What if training the leaders of the future started with immersion in responsible architecture in tune with its surroundings?

2024, Projet finaliste aux Grands Prix du Design – Certification Or

2024, Commendation – CAA Environmental Impact Award – Professional Practice Category (Caribbean & Americas) – Commonwealth Association of Architects

2024, Projet finaliste des Prix d'Excellence en architecture de l'Ordre des Architectes du Québec

2023, Prix d 'excellence (catégorie Bâtiment de moyenne hauteur) - Mentions Mérite d'ingénierie et Mérite architectural - American Concrete Institute (ACI) - Section du Québec et de l'est de l'Ontario

Designing a new 24,000-m2 building in downtown Montréal to expand the horizons of the oldest business and administration School in the country was the challenge undertaken by Provencher_Roy for the Hélène Desmarais Building – HEC Montréal. The resulting design reflects the principles of modernity, functionality, and sustainability that make the institution a leader in the fields of education and research. As a setting for training the decision-makers of tomorrow, the School was devised as an atmosphere of possibilities.

The Hélène Desmarais Building (paying homage to the eponymous Québécois business woman acting as the first woman President of the Board of Directors of HEC Montréal) is situated in the Ville-Marie borough, between St. Patrick's Basilica, Beaver Hall Street, and De la Gauchetière Street West. The design therefore represents a return to the source, since HEC Montréal was founded in the Ville-Marie borough in 1907. In over a century, the world has changed significantly. The Business School has evolved, as reflected by its new building. The School's contemporary face was shaped to respond to three objectives: opening up a dialogue paying homage to a remarkable heritage, establishing a downtown presence reflecting its international character, and supporting the principles of sustainable development by creatively applying current standards.

Centred on community well-being, the contemporary HEC Montréal Building was imagined as a vast network of learning, research, and collaborative spaces, encouraging pleasant exchanges between students, teachers, and business professionals. Collective spaces were also designed as meeting spaces for these different communities. The spatial organization and range of service offerings bring together disciplines, cultures, and various generations. A spacious community cafeteria, and a mix of different offices dissolve disciplinary silos. The abundance of natural light fills the site with a warm and welcoming atmosphere for users. The project design was guided by an aesthetic logic valuing seasonal contrasts, the benefits of light therapy, and the virtues of in-person meetings.

Photo credit for HEC : Ema Peter

Save the dates:

• November 5, "AI and your leadership role: ethics ans legal framework", conference to demystifiy AI
• December 3 in the evening, IWF Montreal celebrates the Holiday Season at the French Line bar, 9th floor of the Eaton Center