ITHQ

A second skin for a second life

Sectors

Education

Services

Architecture Sustainability and energy efficiency

Client: Société immobilière du Québec

Location: Montréal, QC, Canada

Year: 2004

Surface of area: 225,906 ft² / 20,995 m²

Collaboration: Ædifica + Lapointe Magne

Aedifica is proud to have participated in the requalification of the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), a leading institution dedicated to training in tourism, hospitality, food service, and wine service. This ambitious project aimed to modernize the ITHQ's facilities and transform the image of its building, initially perceived as an uninspiring example of 1970s architecture.

Our intervention focused on creating a "second skin" for the building, an innovative approach that significantly improved its energy performance and aesthetics. This new envelope, while recovering a large part of the existing structure, provides a visual and solar screen, and integrates a passive solar heating system.

The interior of the building has also been redesigned to meet the specific requirements of each space, from kitchen workshops to training rooms and the hotel. A palette of vibrant colors, inspired by the Victorian houses in the neighborhood, was used to energize the facades and create a harmonious link with the urban context.

The result is a spectacular transformation: from a gray and opaque building, the ITHQ has become a bright, colorful, and welcoming place, reflecting the dynamism and excellence of the institution. This project illustrates our commitment to revitalizing existing structures by breathing new life into them, while integrating principles of sustainable development and improving the user experience.

In collaboration with Lapointe Magne