Maison mère des Sœurs de Sainte-Anne à Lachine

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Deeply rooted in the history of Lachine, the Sisters of Sainte-Anne Congregation has significantly shaped the community through their unwavering commitment to education, healthcare, and community engagement. Recognizing the need to preserve this precious legacy, the Congregation initiated an ambitious upgrade project for their mother house. Our team at Aedifica was honored to collaborate on this meaningful transformation, aiming to ensure the long-term viability of the buildings and provide a peaceful and suitable living environment for its two hundred sisters, while also opening the site to the wider community.

Our approach involved a respectful revitalization of the existing facilities, enhanced by the addition of new housing units. Seventy-three condominiums were created, with 20% specifically designed for families, fostering intergenerational diversity. Furthermore, 241 community housing units were developed within the renovated wings of the original building and in a contemporary eight-story addition, under the Accès Logis program. The design of this extension prioritized a harmonious integration with the existing architecture, featuring a sober grey mineral material and linear fenestration, punctuated by distinctive elements marking the common areas. The building's massing and facade treatment establish a subtle dialogue between tradition and modernity.

A central element of our approach was a profound respect for the site's heritage. Working closely with the Congregation and the Bâtir son Quartier organization, we ensured that the new interventions aligned with the original architectural intentions. A significant gesture was the transformation of the woodland and orchard into a park accessible to all Lachine residents, thus preserving the natural heritage and strengthening the connection between the Congregation and its community. This project required expert navigation through urban regulations, securing a zoning change and several exemptions, validated through presentations to the City of Montreal's consultative bodies.

The revitalized Sisters of Sainte-Anne Mother House stands as a testament to our expertise in addressing complex projects that blend heritage and development. It ensures a secure future for the Congregation while offering new and diverse housing opportunities in Lachine. The creation of an accessible public park enriches the neighborhood's quality of life, illustrating our commitment to architecture that positively impacts its occupants and the wider community. This project reflects the Congregation's cherished values of simplicity, modesty, and environmental respect, notably incorporating quiet zones dedicated to the sisters' spiritual needs.

This project exemplifies our integrated and transdisciplinary approach, where close collaboration among our architects, urban planners, and heritage specialists, as well as with our partners and the client, brought a shared vision to life – one that honors the past while embracing the future.