“Walking through the completed spaces today, we feel a spatial
quality that is in line with the ambitions of this great institution,”
explains Azad Chichmanian, partner and architect with NEUF
architect(e)s. “As the public finally begins to discover the
architectural moments that have been created, from the inviting,
light-filled public spaces to the state-of-the-art clinical facilities,
we believe the building will succeed in completely redefining
Montrealers’ image of what a hospital feels like.”
Throughout the design process, the team continually pushed the
envelope for quality of design, whether in its use of parametric
design on the building envelope, the use of 3D-printed models
in coordination, an innovative approach to the integration of
heritage components, and an intense use of technology to
facilitate communication between team members from across the
globe.
From a healthcare delivery perspective, each of the 772 rooms
includes ample space for family involvement, and expansive
windows offering some of the best views of the city. Importantly,
the entire building is designed following universal design
principles, and impressively, the vast majority of the 12,000+
rooms in the building were designed following a small number of
standardized room templates. “The creation of such an incredible
healthcare facility required our design team to look at the project
from numerous perspectives, but we leveraged our health
expertise to always keep patient experience at the forefront.”
added Silva.
Art at the heart of the architecture
Going well beyond the Quebec government’s requirement of
dedicating a minimum of 1% of a public development’s budget to
the integration of art, the new CHUM campus will have 13 large-
scale works of art incorporated into the design and ultimately
house the highest concentration of public art in Montreal since
Expo 67.
“We have integrated the art directly into the architecture of
the complex in ways that blur the lines between the two and
provides a more human experience to the visitor and staff”,
explains Chichmanian. “In fact, many components of the buildings
themselves can be considered as works of art, including the
amphitheater, the reconstructed steeple, Maison Garth and the
Space of Contemplation—forming a series of architectural objects
animating Saint-Denis Street. Perhaps the best example is the