Sainte-Foy CEGEP Forecourt

Sainte-Foy CEGEP is the largest college in the greater Québec City region, with 10,700 students and 1,500 employees, as well as the public attending events at the Albert-Rousseau performance hall (1,348 seats), one of Québec City’s largest venues. Since its initial construction in 1962, the CEGEP has undergone numerous expansion projects in response to specific needs. This gradually led to its isolation surrounded by parking lots, making major pedestrian connections difficult, and limiting the presence of a true living and gathering space to energize and connect diverse outdoor areas. The interactions of different user groups also constituted a particular challenge that guided choices regarding spatial organization.

The new demineralized gathering space features a largely vegetated forecourt, contributing to the creation of a comfortable and inviting space for all through its “conversation plazas” and relaxation zones. The new multipurpose public plaza focuses on greening, environmental respect (green and healthy CEGEP), active mobility, and universal accessibility to the educational institution and its performance hall. The development positions Sainte-Foy CEGEP as a model in terms of innovation and creation of living environments, while ensuring safe cohabitation of different transportation modes. Better organization of transportation routes and prioritization of uses make the site more accessible, while offering interesting viewpoints for the buildings and surroundings.

A large forecourt was created to replace the former parking lot located in front of the main building. Now it is crossed by a major structural pedestrian axis and pathways punctuated with landscaping and furniture. A selection of materials, textures, and colours unifies existing structures and creates a distinctive image at the entrance. A drop-off area is integrated into the forecourt development, as is an access ramp from parking lot no. 1, to ensure universal accessibility, offering more direct and safe access.

In accordance with the CEGEP’s sustainable development principles and with a view to promote resilience, existing mature trees were preserved, biodiversity was improved, and rain gardens were added. Site legibility has greatly improved through the redesign of signage from the street and the creation of a new visual and structural link to the main entrance, emphasizing the interesting qualities of the central building. The Sainte-Foy CEGEP entrance revitalization project restores the emblematic character of the main pavilion by highlighting the architectural character of the spire rising from the building.

Data sheet

Client

Sainte-Foy CEGEP

Location

Québec