Buildings

Client

National Circus School, Montreal, Canada

Scope of Work

Design, supervision of structural works and construction management.

A modular design was used for the 38,000 sq. ft. school, which measures 98 feet in height and is located in Montreal’s Circus Arts District. Several large volumes were stacked to create the training facilities.

With financial considerations in mind, our structural experts employed simple and effective construction methods to quickly erect the concrete-steel frame. Verreault, Dessau's construction subsidiary, managed the construction of this unique building.

Challenges

Balance functionality and architecture.

Prizes and Awards

2004 Award of Excellence, in the Commercial and Institutional Projects category, awarded by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC).

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Client

Centre de Recherche sur les Grains CÉROM Inc., Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Canada

Scope of Work

Mechanical electrical and structural engineering assistance during the construction phase, partial supervision.

Founded in 1997, the CEROM Grain Research Centre conducts public studies for the development of the grain production sector. Dessau obtained a contract to design the electrical and mechanical systems for their new centre, measuring 30,774 sq. ft. The building includes several laboratories, offices, cold chambers, workshops, a grain warehouse and greenhouses (including a tropical greenhouse).

Our design work, which was recognized by the prestigious American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), includes a solar wall and 24 geothermal wells that are 499 feet deep. The building consumes 54% less energy and produces 347 fewer tonnes of greenhouse gases annually than a comparable building using standard technology.

Challenges

Design a high energy performance building for a northern climate.
Use a network of geothermal heat pumps and a solar wall for preheating cool air and pair it with a system to recover heat from stale air and condensers.
Identify and simulate several strategies for energy efficiency and recommend solutions for greatest annual savings.
Use 3-D modelling to ensure adequate aseismic behaviour for the curved roof structures.

Prizes and Awards

2009 Canadian Consulting-Engineering Award, in the “Buildings” category, awarded by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of Canada (ACEC).
2009 ASHRAE Technology Awards, Honourable Mention, “Institutional Buildings – New” category, awarded by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Client

Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada

Scope of Work

Design and supervise structural works for the biggest arena in North America.

Dessau provided the structural engineering for this exceptional sports and entertainment complex, which is home to the legendary Montreal Canadiens hockey team. With a surface area of 199,000 sq. ft., the Bell Centre is 36 metres tall and can accommodate

up to 22,500 spectators. The building’s main structure includes 10 levels and is made up of 36 rigid concrete frames arranged around the ice rink.

Challenges

Integrate the building with nearby Bonaventure metro station and the Lucien-L’Allier train station.
Adapt the building design to the site’s particularities, including a natural difference in levels reaching 36 feet.
Design the roof to support 75 tonnes of equipment.

Prizes and Awards

« 1996 Award of Excellence » , in the Commercial and Institutional Projects category, awarded by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC).
« 1996 Arcus Prize » awarded by the Quebec Concrete Association (ABQ).

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Client

Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec, Montreal, Canada

Scope of Work

Construction of the financial institution’s new 733,000 sq. ft. head office.

Verreault, a Dessau subsidiary, was responsible for the construction of this green building, which featured 13 above-ground floors as well as two floors above a three-lane underground highway.

The building included the following technological innovations: a double-skin curtain wall, micro climate control, and raised floors with mechanical and electrical services. Verrault also built a pedestrian passage connecting the building to a nearby metro station and several adjacent buildings.

Challenges

Build in the heart of Montreal’s business district.
Minimize impact on the underground highway below.
Coordinate work with public services and neighbouring buildings.

Prizes and Awards

2004 Award of Excellence in Steel Construction awarded by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC).

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Client

La Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal, Société Immobilière du Québec (SIQ), Montreal, Canada

Scope of Work

Design and supervise structural works for this exceptional building in the heart of Montreal’s business district.

Located in Montreal’s downtown area, this building hosts major international conventions and trade shows. It was built over an entrenched highway.

Dessau provided the design and structural verification for the construction of the initial building and the subsequent 1.6 million sq. ft. expansion.

Challenges

Span the Ville-Marie Expressway (A720) with exceptionally large beams.
Ensure the structural integrity of the underground highway and the Place-d’Armes metro station.
Produce a seismic-resistant design.
Conserve the façades of several heritage sites.
Ensure that the activities at the Palais des congrès were not interrupted during the expansion works.

Prizes and Awards

Armatura Grand Prize of the Decade, in the Commercial category, awarded by the Quebec Steel Reinforcement Institute (IAAQ) in 2010.
2003 Award of Excellence, in the Commercial and Institutional Projects category, awarded by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC).
2003 Armatura Award, in the Commercial Buildings category, awarded by the Quebec Steel Reinforcement Institute (IAAQ).
1985 Award of Excellence awarded by the Prestressed Concrete Institute.
1985 Award of Excellence awarded by the Post-Tensioned Concrete Institute.
1981 Award of Excellence awarded by the American Concrete Institute.

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Client

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada

Scope of Work

Engineering, geotechnical engineering and materials control for the expansion and renovation of the museum.

Established in 1860, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is the oldest art museum in Canada and one of the largest encylopedic art museums in North America. In 1987, Dessau provided complete services related to structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, materials control, environmental characterization, site decontamination, telecommunications and civil works for the construction of a new five-story pavilion facing the existing museum.

This prestigious building, which is filled with natural light thanks to a spectacular window structure and glass court, connects to the original building via an 82-ft. underground gallery that runs under Sherbrooke Street, a major east-west thoroughfare that spans nearly the entire Island of Montreal. In 1999, Dessau also produced the engineering plans for the expansion, renovation and restoration of the original building.

Challenges

Design a glass structure similar to the one found at the Louvre in Paris.
Create an inclined, 79-ft. glass structure with few visible support elements.
Dig under a main urban thoroughfare in the heart of downtown Montreal without disrupting traffic.
Reconfigure several underground water supply pipes (1,200 mm diameter) and a sewage pipe (1,650 mm diameter).

Prizes and Awards

1993 Institutional Architecture Award, Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion, awarded by the Quebec Order of Architects.

Client

Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

Scope of Work

Construction of an 18-storey university building.

Located in downtown Montreal, the John Molson School of Business has a surface area of 344,000 sq. ft. Verreault, a Dessau subsidiary, was responsible for the construction of this 18-storey teaching and research facility, which connects to other campus buildings by way of two pedestrian tunnels. Built with an LEED approach, the building can accommodate 8,000 students.

The upper floors are used as office space while the lower levels consist of classrooms and auditoriums seating 50 to 325 people.

The exterior envelope was used as a testing area to develop new energy recovery and generation techniques.

Challenges

Carry out the construction in a confined space over a metro station and in a high-traffic area.
Build two pedestrian tunnels requiring the use of support structures.

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Client

Canada Museums Construction Corporation Inc., Gatineau, Canada

Scope of Work

Design and supervise electrical and telecommunications works for a 968,000 sq. ft. museum.

Acclaimed for its rounded architecture, the Canadian Museum of Civilization attracts over 1.3 million visitors a year, making it the most popular museum in Canada. Directly across the Ottawa River from Canada’s parliament, the museum is home to galleries and exhibition halls showcasing Canadian history and culture, as well as laboratories and an IMAX theatre.

Dessau’s specialists worked on the building’s electrical distribution and lighting, in addition to the fire-protection, security and communications systems. Our contract also included the outdoor lighting and electrical systems, and a study for the implementation of a fibre-optic system for internal communications (data, television and voice).

Challenges

Design the Imax/OmniMax theatre (new technology at the time).
Integrate sophisticated intruder-detection systems, a modular fire alarm system, and emergency electrical distribution.
Plan, on several stories, the layout for rooms designed to have no straight lines.

Client

Mistissini Cree Nation, Mistissini, Canada

Scope of Work

Design and supervise works for the construction of a community centre in a northern climate.

Dessau provided various engineering services, including supervision of works, for the construction of this energy-efficient community centre in Northern Canada. Managed by the Cree community, the centre is a popular meeting place for local residents.

The building consumes 62% less energy than a standard building, which translates into $153,000 in savings and 350 fewer tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year. This exceptional energy performance is the result of several initiatives, including heat recovery and geothermal technologies.

Challenges

Design a high energy performance building suited to Canada’s harsh northern climate.
Identify and simulate several energy efficiency strategies and recommend solutions for greatest annual savings.
Use local materials to stimulate the region's economy.

Prizes and Awards

2009 ASHRAE Technology Awards, in the “New Public Assembly Building” category, awarded by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
2008 Canadian Consulting-Engineering Award, in the “Buildings” category, awarded by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of Canada (ACEC).
2008 Quebec Consulting Engineering Award, in the “Buildings – Mechanical/Electrical" category, awarded by the Quebec Association of Consulting Engineers (AICQ).

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