60 Years of Architecture

60 Years of

Architecture

MLS Architectes 1960-2020

OUR MISSION

Building a harmonius and

long-lasting architecture

OUR VISION

To improve living environments

in our communities

Current Projects

Past Projects

Val-d’Or city hall 020

Val-d’Or cultural centre 022

Notre-Dame-de-Fatima Church in Val-d’Or 024

Val-d’Or courthouse 026

L’Étape youth centre in Val-d’Or 028

Saint-Sauveur hospital 030

Place du Québec 032

Val-d’Or airport terminal 034

Waswanipi medical clinic 040

Waskaganish Annie Whiskeychan Memorial Elementary School 042

Waswanipi multi-service centre 044

Val-d’Or hospital Emergency department 046

Kuujjuaq Pitakallak School 048

Waswanipi vocational training centre 052

Kativik School Board administrative centre in Kuujjuaq 056

Centre Air Creebec expansion in Val-d’Or 058

Northern Mining Transit Center in Val-d’Or 060

Val-d’Or courthouse expansion 062

First Peoples Pavilion in Val-d’Or 066

Expansion and redesign of the psychiatric hospital 070

Expansion of Le Tremplin secondary school in Malartic 072

The Trait-d’Union Centre in Malartic 074

CHSLD Villa St-Martin in Malartic 076

Chisasibi Waapinichikush School 078

Salle Félix-Leclerc 082

Kuujjuarapik multiple-unit housing (RRSSSN) 084

Renovation and expansion of Hotel Forestel in Val-d’Or 086

Expansion and renovation of the Val-d’Or airport 088

CHRD Chisasibi 090

Val-d’Or music conservatory 092

Eastmain Community Centre 096

Youth protection offices in Puvirnituq 100

Major renovations to Nunavik homes (KMHB) 102

Puvirnituq conference centre 104

Vallée-de-l’Or farmers’ market 106

Val-d’Or Professional training Centre 108

New Mistissini police station 112

Wemindji et Waskaganish training centres 114

Amos detention centre 118

Le Transit de Val-d’Or sports centre 122

Kativik School Board housing 126

Centre multisport Fournier 128

In the 1960s, Val-d’Or witnessed the birth of a

new architectural identity as the firm Monette,

Leclerc, St-Denis et Associés, architectes

designed the city’s first major public buildings.

Future Projects

Barriere Lake Kitiganik elementary school 136

New Chisasibi elementary school 140

New Inukjuak secondary school 142

Seniors’ residence and alternative housing in Abitibi 144

Expansion and renovation of Tukisiniarvik School in Akulivik 146

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

60 Years of

Architecture

MLS Architectes is proud to present a remarkable body of

architectural work that illustrates the knowledge and expertise

handed down from generation to generation by the members

of our firm. This compendium showcases the projects that, over

six decades (1960–2020) spanning different eras, highlight the

major contribution made by MLS Architectes to the development

of Abitibi, Cree and Inuit communities.

The publication of this volume is also an opportunity for us to

step back and take stock of our projects’ contributions to the built

environment and architectural heritage of Val-d’Or and Indigenous

communities in northern Québec. Finally, it is also a gift, an

expression of our gratitude to our valued clients, without whom

these four generations of architects could not have harnessed their

talents and left their own, indelible mark on this immense region.

M L S A R C H I T E C T E S

006 007

60

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

MLS

Expertise

EDUCATION

INSTITUTIONAL

CULTURAL

AND SPORTS

INDUSTRIAL

3,000

PROJECTS

COMMERCIAL

RESIDENTIAL


008 009

A Name Known

Throughout the Region

For 60 years, MLS Architectes has been active across a large expanse

of northern Québec. The firm has played a role in the development of

communities in northwestern Québec, the James Bay region and Nunavik.

It is proud of its achievements and their lasting impact on the built

environment throughout these regions.


010 011

he Region

22

21

20

19

23

17

16

15

14

13

11

5

18

4

3

24

12

1 2

6

8

7

25

26

27

10

9

28

29

1. Val-d’Or

2. Lac Simon

3. Amos

4. Pikogan

5. Rouyn-Noranda

6. Kitcisakik

7. Barriere Lake

8. Waswanipi

9. Ouje-Bougoumou

10. Mistissini

11. Waskaganish

12. Nemiscau

13. Eastmain

14. Wemindji

15. Chisasibi

16. Whapmagoostui

17. Kuujjuarapik

18. Umiujaq

19. Inukjuak

20. Puvirnituq

21. Akulivik

22. Ivujivik

23. Salluit

24. Kangiqsujuaq

25. Quaqtaq

26. Kangirsuk

27. Aupaluk

28. Kuujjuaq

29. Kangiqsualujjuaq


012

013

Attention to Detail and

Quality of Execution

Our Know-How

MLS Architectes is known for its architectural

designs, attention to detail and quality of execution.

By combining those strengths with its unique

creativity and the client’s vision, the firm is able

to deliver functional, aesthetic and well-crafted

structures that meet its clients’ needs and are

respectful of the environment. Team spirit is a big

part of MLS’s conceptual work. In its studio, with

its completely open-plan layout, ideas circulate

freely and projects are always evolving. Synergy

has long been a cornerstone of the team’s

approach, enhancing its ability to find optimal

solutions—a talent that is key to the firm’s success.


014

015

PAST

Projects


016 017

G

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1st

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The Founders

960

The continuing story of MLS Architectes has been written by four generations of architects.

It began in 1959 with architect Marcel Monette’s arrival in Val-d’Or to assist Jean-Charles

Fortin, the first architect to open a practice in the city. Their collaboration gave rise to

Lemoyne and Saint-Joseph churches as well as the church of Saint-Sauveur-les-Mines,

which stands proudly over the eastern section of 3 e Avenue. In the same year, Jean-Charles

Fortin left Val-d’Or to return to practise in Montréal. His departure cleared the way for

Marcel Monette, who founded his own firm in Val-d’Or in 1960, deciding to pursue his career

in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Faced with a rush of construction projects generated by the strong economy—primarily a result

of the booming mining industry and Val-d’Or’s continued growth—the firm recruited Jacques

St-Denis, an architect from Rouyn-Noranda who had earned his degree at the University of

Winnipeg. In 1965, the team expanded once again with the recruitment of architect Eugène

Leclerc, a native of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in the Gaspé region. Marcel and Eugène were

former classmates, both having studied at Université de Montréal in the 1950s, and he was a

natural addition to the team. In fall 1966, the three partners created an architectural firm and

baptized it Monette, Leclerc, St-Denis, architectes.

Throughout their careers, the three steadfast partners were ably supported by their valued

colleague, consummate technician and workshop supervisor Thomas Lemieux. He worked

tirelessly with the founding partners for nearly 35 years. During the same period, this pillar

of the firm proved an able ambassador for MLS in building close ties with the First Peoples,

particularly Cree communities in the James Bay region.

This was a time of exponential growth for northwestern Québec. Communities began to erect

the buildings that were essential to their future development, including schools, hospitals,

courthouses, city halls, manufacturing facilities and sports, cultural and community centres.

In 1975, the Québec government signed an historic agreement with northern Québec’s

Indigenous communities. With northwestern Québec and the James Bay region growing

at breakneck speed, the architects tackled a wide range of institutional projects with great

excitement and enthusiasm. They travelled the length and breadth of the region, getting to

know their neighbours and forging close relationships with local communities.

Working tirelessly, Monette, Leclerc, St-Denis, architectes played a major role in the

development of Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the region’s Cree and Algonquin communities

during this time by completing over 3,000 projects—a remarkable architectural legacy.

Regrettably, Jacques St-Denis passed away on March 25, 2005 at 66 years of age, while Marcel

Monette left us three years later, aged 78. Eugène Leclerc, for his part, retired to his home town

of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in the Gaspé. As we go to press, Eugène is still with us at 90 years

of age. Thanks to the close working relationship they shared through the years, the firm they

left behind has become one of the few architectural firms in Québec—perhaps the only one—

whose founders remained faithful partners from start to finish.


018 019

City hall

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 6 4

Built in 1964, Val-d’Or city hall

makes a statement with its bold,

avant-garde architecture.

The building’s V-shaped concrete structures add interest to

its façade, which features a cantilevered awning overhanging

the main entrance. The contemporary architecture of this

heritage building is still current today.


020 021

Cultural centre

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 6 7

This project was part of the

federal government’s program

to mark the 100 th anniversary

of Confederation in 1967 by

constructing landmark buildings

across the country. Val-d’Or was

the setting for this cultural

centre project.

Featuring a modern asymmetric design that boldly rejects

classical formalism, this structure houses an exhibition room,

a small theatre and a library. Its imposing roof is supported

by immense beams of laminated wood that extend past the

building’s walls.


022 023

Notre-Damede-Fatima

Church

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 6 7

Val-d’Or’s Notre-Dame-de-Fatima

church was built in 1967.

One of the few white churches found in Abitibi-

Témiscamingue, it was the boldest example of

Québec modernism at the time of its construction.


024 025

Courthouse

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 6 7

The Val-d’Or courthouse

was officially opened in 1967.

The symmetrical monumental façade is pierced by perfectly

regular openings in the white concrete structure. An imposing

staircase and floating awning focus attention on the building’s

main entrance.


026 027

L’Étape Youth Centre

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 6 7

L’Étape youth and rehabilitation centre in Val-d’Or was

designed to reproduce the look and feel of individual homes.

The traditional and rather rigid treatment usually

chosen for this type of institution gives way to a more

fragmented approach in both shape and function.

Every housing unit is a little home of its own. The

houses’ arrangement on the site creates a dynamic

whole while simultaneously preserving the complex’s

human scale.


028 029

Saint-Sauveur Hospital

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 7 5

This new Saint-Sauveur Hospital

pavilion opened in 1975. The

building’s modern architecture

contrasts with that of the original

structure.

The new pavilion’s upper floors are clad in brilliant white

enameled metal panels, creating a sharp contrast with the

institutional yellow brickwork of the hospital’s older sections.

The expanded podium, complex mechanical systems and

dual-circulation corridors on the upper floors all bear witness

to the structure’s modern design.


030 031

Place du Québec

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 7 6

This structure is listed in the

city of Val-d’Or’s built heritage

directory.

Built at a cost of $1 million in 1976, Place du Québec stands

proudly on 3 rd Avenue like a lighthouse marking the entrance

to the downtown core. Its architecture is decidedly modern

and minimalist. Standing five stories tall, it is one of two

high-rise buildings in town, along with the hospital centre.


032 033

Airport terminal

V A L - D ’ O R | 1 9 8 7

In 1987, the firm participated

in the design and construction

of Val-d’Or’s new air terminal. The

building’s architectural treatment

is very different from that of the

former air terminal built 20 years

earlier, also by MLS.

Decked out in lightly tinted concrete masonry siding on

all façades, the terminal mainly shows off its curves at the

entrances and exits. Inspired by the movement of air over

the wings of an airplane, it’s clear that the architects sought

to breathe new life into modern architecture by imbuing it

with greater fluidity.


034 035

CURRENT

Projects


036 037

G

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New Blood

990

In the early 1990s, after more than 30 years of collaboration, the founders welcomed two young architects

to the MLS team. Martin Saint-Denis and Brian Faubert settled in Val-d’Or in 1992 and 1993 respectively, after

having completed summer internships in the city since 1990. Bringing new energy and complementary skill sets,

they provided the firm with fresh blood while maintaining the level of customer service its clients had always

enjoyed. Both were armed with a master’s degree in project management from Université du Québec in Abitibi-

Témiscamingue, and they put their knowledge to work for the firm’s clients as project managers, designers and

administrators.

Martin Saint-Denis soon took on significant responsibilities as project manager. Right from 1993, he was asked

to oversee the complete refurbishment of the Rouyn-Noranda courthouse. That project was soon followed by

others in the areas of healthcare, both in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and on Eeyou Ischtee territory (CHSLD,

CLSC, clinics, emergency departments, etc.), education (Le Trait-d’Union school, Centre multisport Fournier,

asset maintenance for various school boards) and culture (Théâtre Télébec, Salle Félix-Leclerc, Salle Meglab,

Conservatoire de musique). Institutional projects (Val-d’Or courthouse, Amos detention centre) and industrial

projects (Eska water bottling plant, various mining projects in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Québec’s far north) are

also part of his portfolio. Multi-talented, he is a generalist at heart. Honest, meticulous, hard-working and a good

listener, he is greatly appreciated by his clients. His desire for quality and refinement come through in every aspect

of his work. Beauty in its broadest sense—esthetic, technical, environmental and functional—is part of his DNA.

Two recent LEED-certified projects capture his vision perfectly: the expansion and refurbishment of the Val-d’Or

courthouse and the Amos detention centre.

Architect Brian Faubert took an interest in northern architecture and more specifically in business development

and relationships with Indigenous peoples as soon as he joined MLS. Named a partner in 1998, he still serves as

owner/architect and project manager for the firm’s large northern projects, whether in the James Bay region or

Nunavik. Brian got his first immersion in Cree culture through his presence and participation in local communities

for the firm’s institutional, educational and sports projects across the Eeyou Istchee territory, from 1993 on. He

continued to build on that relationship of trust with Cree communities and particularly the Cree School Board,

for which MLS built schools in several communities. The year 2000 marked a turning point in his career with his

contribution to MLS’s first school project in Inuit territory, in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik. Brian is very grateful to the Kativik

School Board for trusting MLS with this highly coveted architectural project. That decision marked the beginning

of a considerable body of architectural work in Nunavik, affording the firm an opportunity to develop the unique

expertise for which MLS Architectes is known today.

Brian would also like to thank the Cree School Board and the Cree communities in the James Bay region, the

Cree Nation Government and the Algonquin communities in northwestern Québec for the confidence they have

shown in the firm over 25 years of collaboration.

“There are some relationships that go

beyond mere business and will remain forever

engraved in my memory because they gave me

the motivation and perseverance I needed to

navigate the years, from project to project.”

BRIAN FAUBERT

“When it is well executed, architecture enhances our

lives and our well-being.”

MARTIN SAINT-DENIS


038 039

Medical clinic

W A S W A N I P I | 1 9 9 8

MLS Architectes built a 1,500 m 2

medical clinic and six housing

units for staff.

The clinic’s services include an out-patient clinic, a

dental clinic, a drop-in centre (for occupational therapy

and physiotherapy) as well as various social services.


040 041

Annie Whiskeychan

Memorial Elementary School

W A S K A G A N I S H | 2 0 0 2

Constructed near the village’s first school, this elementary

school found a home in the community’s institutional district.

This project was a response to the social need to

separate the school’s youngest pupils from secondarylevel

students. It also addressed the growing need

for new classrooms, in light of the Cree Nation of

Waskaganish’s significant growth. The conventional

L-shaped layout was a good fit for the building’s users,

for whom practical and financial considerations were

top priority. Durable materials were used to withstand

the rigours of the James Bay region’s northern

climate. Masonry, steel, aluminium and glass combine

harmoniously thanks to the regularly punctuated

façades and bright colours outlining the classrooms on

two floors. The school’s east-west orientation optimizes

the distribution of natural light in the classrooms.


042 043

Multi-service centre

W A S W A N I P I | 2 0 0 3

MLS worked with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services

of James Bay to finish and fine-tune the project’s functional and

technical design in order to meet its needs in the area of health

and social services.

This pilot project, which covers services such as

physiotherapy, physical fitness and lifelong learning,

has been replicated in all Cree communities.

The architecture’s homelike character fosters

an atmosphere of calm and rehabilitation, as does the

use of such natural materials as solid wood, stone and

cedar planks.


044 045

Val-d’Or hospital

Emergency department

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 0 3

In 2002, the Val-d’Or hospital

Emergency department expanded

its facilities to make room for

emergency services.

The architectural scheme creates a dialogue with the modern

language used in the existing building, to which it is connected.

Materials like steel and masonry lend the building added

strength and play up its decidedly contemporary look and feel.

The façade’s abundant window work lets plenty of natural light

into the waiting room and traffic areas.


046 047

Pitakallak School

K U U J J U A Q | 2 0 0 4

The Kuujjuaq elementary school boasts 2,200 m² of surface area

on two floors.

This new school was designed for 60 preschool pupils

and 140 more at the elementary level. The functional

design included kindergarten and elementary-school

classrooms, a gymnasium and a library. The architectural

scheme features fluid, compact volumes aligned with

the prevailing winds. Permafrost was another major

constraint for this project. The primary colours

accentuate and define a restrained but dynamic

architectural style, the overall visual impact of which

is exciting and reflects the spirit of a northern

elementary school.


048 049

itak

cho


050 051

Vocational training centre

W A S W A N I P I | 2 0 0 4

The architectural concept

revolves around a central axis

that cuts the building in two,

separating the centre’s training

workshop facilities from its

more traditional classrooms.

An immense curved and oblique wall stretches from the main

entrance to the rear exit, creating a corridor and an agora in

a traffic zone that also serves as a buffer between the noisy

workshops and the area reserved for more theoretical study.

That duality of purpose is also reflected in the distinct

architectural expression of the two areas in their geometry,

materials and layout. Finally, the residence building stands

across from the training centre, its façade harmoniously

mirroring that of the centre’s theoretical section. The structures

complement each other in their forms and architectural

treatment, creating a campus that is truly unique.


052 053

G

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Staying the Course

In the early 2000s, the firm welcomed two young architects from Val-d’Or, Laurie and Anick

Marchand, both armed with a bachelor’s degree from Université de Montréal. Keen to explore

every facet of the profession, they quickly plunged into projects large and small. Right from the

start, Laurie began working with Martin on regional projects while Anick joined Brian to serve

the province’s northern reaches.

Laurie took part in numerous projects that would shape the region’s built environment. The

First Peoples Pavilion and the Val-d’Or courthouse expansion are two notable examples.

With the expansion of the Osisko project (now Canadian Malartic) in 2008, several other new

structures sprang up in Malartic, including the St-Martin residential centre, the cultural and

recreational centre and Centre Le Trait-d’Union.

For her part, Anick made a name for herself by forging relationships with the First Peoples,

rooted in a partnership and culture of sharing that were prerequisites for designing buildings

adapted to the rigorous climate and the communities’ way of life. She participated in her first

major project, the Waswanipi vocational training centre and its student residences, in 2003.

In the following years, she took the helm of several institutional projects for the Kativik School

Board, the Cree School Board and the Cree Nation Government.

In 2009, both Anick and Laurie received their LEED professional credentials and were inducted

into the Ordre des architectes.

As time went on, the two teams began allocating contracts according to the young architects’

growing experience—an experience supported by the knowledge and professionalism of

architectural technologists Éric Lévesque and Marcelo Bianco, two pillars of the workshop.

Thanks to their creativity, efficiency and organizational skills, Anick and Laurie were soon put

in charge of some of the firm’s major projects. They even combined their design talents for

a number of Val-d’Or projects, including the Val-d’Or Music Conservatory, the Professional

Training Centre and Centre multisport Fournier. Little by little, the new generation gave rise

to a unique architectural signature, and the firm—steadfast in its commitment to excellence

and to designing buildings of quality that withstand the test of time—adopted it as its mission:

“Building a harmonius and long-lasting architecture.”

Today, just like Brian and Martin in the beginning, Anick and Laurie are sage advisors for new

architects joining the firm. In 2018, they became partners themselves and today are gradually

taking steps to ensure the business’s continuity.


054 055

Kativik School Board

administrative centre

K U U J J U A Q | 2 0 0 8

Due to the site’s irregular topography

and the difficulty of excavating bedrock,

the proposed concept avoided the need

for intense blasting by making the choice

of a centre on two levels in the site’s

lower portion and a single level in the

upper portion.

Given the lack of water, drainage and sanitation systems, the project had to

make allowances for the height of a future service space beneath the building.

For that reason, the concept focused on integrating the structure harmoniously

into the site and minimized the perception of height by building on two levels,

following the profile of the terrain. Giving the structure a curve ensured

wonderful river views from the second-floor offices.

The logistical constraints involved in building in remote regions, including

transporting materials and procurement problems during construction, have

to be taken into account when selecting building materials. The use of modular

cladding in the form of aluminum panels is a practical, long-lasting solution.

The resulting architectural treatment is both sober and dynamic, and

complements Kuujjuaq’s northern landscapes.


056 057

Centre Air Creebec

expansion

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 0 9

The expansion and renovation of

Centre Air Creebec provided space

prestigious new seating and a new

VIP section in the bleachers.

Four new staircases provide easier access to the exit. In

addition, the complex was fitted with several new rooms,

including a study room, a meeting room, a bar, a shop

and a small restaurant. Outside, a majestic curtain wall

envelops the building’s main entrance.


058 059

Northern Mining

Transit Center

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 0 9

The Northern Mining Transit

Center (CTMN) in Val-d’Or

was built in 2009 to give mining

companies active in northern

Québec access to airport facilities

enabling them to transport their

workers and materials to distant

operating sites.

The new building offers 3,215 m 2 of space and connects to

the previously existing airport terminal. This world-class facility

provides fly-in/fly-out capability along with office and storage

space rental for mining companies. It also houses a boarding

area able to seat 100 passengers, a security service, boarding

desks and a lounge for pilots in transit.


060 061

Courthouse expansion

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 0 9

This project involved expanding the courthouse to add a hearing

room, judges’ offices, consultation rooms and administrative

facilities. In addition, there were shortcomings in the private/

public circulation system, and the spaces had to be reconfigured

to allow for secure circulation and avoid unwanted encounters.

Several factors led project designers to place the

expansion to the rear of the existing building. The first was

the desire to preserve the courthouse’s appearance as

it was known in the community. Because the courthouse

is over 40 years old, it was one of the first buildings of its

size to have been erected in Val-d’Or.

Work targeting the main façade made it possible to blend

the two eras harmoniously, giving the structure a new

lease on life. A long section of tinted curtain wall was

affixed to the exterior wall of the main façade’s second

floor, with a new glazed lobby front and centre. The new

building, with its sober architectural treatment, fits in very

well with the surrounding environment and preserves the

courthouse’s imposing presence.

The courthouse was the region’s first building to be

LEED-certified.

Project executed in consortium with Jodoin Lamarre

Pratte architectes Inc.


062 063

ourt

use

064 065


First Peoples Pavilion

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 0 9

The First Peoples Pavilion project in Val-d’Or involved expanding

the UQAT’s facilities with the addition of new classrooms, offices

and a large multi-purpose room. The pavilion also houses a large

indoor garden along what was formerly the library’s exterior wall.

A number of meetings with advisory committees

emphasized the importance of infusing the new building

with Indigenous elements. While the teepee was the

single most dominant symbol to be incorporated, other

elements such as fireplaces, medicine wheels, natural

materials, beading motifs and the relationship with

nature also found a home in the structure. The architect’s

challenge was to convey that Indigenous symbolism

through architectural elements while preserving an

understated, contemporary style.


066 067

rst

opl


068 069

Expansion and redesign

of the psychiatric hospital

M A L A R T I C | 2 0 1 0

Work on this project included a

2,590-m 2 expansion on three stories,

for a total of roughly 6,000 m 2

of extra space. The building was

designed to house a CLSC, a small

emergency department, an external

psychiatry clinic and acute-care,

long-term care and forensic units.

The three expanded medical units are housed on the

establishment’s second floor and are laid out in a semi-circular

shape surrounding a shared nurses’ station in the centre. This

approach ensures that the nurses’ station has a clear view of

the hallways and activity in all three units.


070 071

Expansion of Le Tremplin

secondary school

M A L A R T I C | 2 0 1 0

The secondary school is equipped with a

multi-purpose auditorium with retractable

bleacher seating.

The theatre’s design and the use of materials distinct from those used

in the new building make the theatre stand out in the middle of the project.

The glassed-in corridor connecting the existing secondary school to

the new cultural centre injects life and colour into the façade thanks to the

comings and goings of the school’s students.


072 073

The Trait-d’Union Center

M A L A R T I C | 2 0 1 0

The adult education operated by

the Centre de services scolaire de

l’Or-et-des-Bois was completed in

2010. The building’s architecture

features distinct form for each

function.

The wooden arch that caps the school allows plenty of natural

light to flood the indoor walkways through expansive glass

walls, while the single-story administrative area near the main

entrance is ensconced behind opaque walls. Spread over two

floors, the classrooms’ windows are aligned in vertical strips,

adding interest to the volume.


074 075

CHSLD Villa St-Martin

M A L A R T I C | 2 0 1 0

St-Martin long-term residential and

care centre in Malartic is divided

into four two-story sections of

15 beds each and a prosthetics unit.

The facility’s accommodations are located far from the street

traffic to ensure residents’ comfort and privacy. On the other

side of this central axis are the administrative services, food

services, multi-disciplinary services, drop-in centre and

technical support services, which all connect to the existing

building by a system of walkways. This configuration makes it

possible for the various services to operate while minimizing

traffic in the living areas. The residential units are dotted with

open-plan lounges and alcoves, breaking up the straight flow

of the corridors.


076 077

Waapinichikush School

C H I S A S I B I | 2 0 1 1

Chisasibi school offers 6,000 m 2 of space on two floors for the

elementary school, and one floor for kindergarten services.

The arc-shaped layout is perfectly suited to the

terrain. Special attention was paid to especially

meaningful elements like the circular agora and the

wooden framework visible throughout the structure.

Standing on the floor of the school’s gathering place

is a magnificent work of art by local artists, the result

of efforts to incorporate art into architecture. In the

preschool wing, skylights installed on the roof of the

main corridor make the area brighter and cheerier.

Masonry facing protects the exterior foundations

while lighter-coloured concrete panels adorn the

upper portions. The colours accentuate and define

a dynamic architectural treatment that complements

the Chisasibi landscape perfectly.


078 079

aap

hiku


080 081

Salle Félix-Leclerc

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 1 1

Partly located beneath the municipal

library and adjoining the Val-d’Or

exhibition centre, Salle Félix-Leclerc

is at the heart of the city’s cultural

life.

In addition to making room for more spectators, the venue’s

2011 expansion allows for a wider range of configurations and

provides superior acoustics. This is the third expansion of

the original building, designed by MLS in 1967. Although a

new generation of architects designed the project and left

their distinctive mark on it, the structure as a whole maintains

a common architectural idiom and a purity of lines that

transcends time.

In 2016, the city of Val-d’Or renamed the building “Complexe

culturel Marcel-Monette” in honour of the founder of MLS,

architect Marcel Monette.


082

083

Multiple-unit housing

(RRSSSN)

N U N A V I K | 2 0 1 2

This project involved preparing a

complete set of specifications for

the construction of 17 quadruplexstyle

multi-dwelling buildings for

the employees of the Régie régionale

de la santé et des services sociaux

du Nunavik.

The 17 buildings were constructed simultaneously in the

communities of Kuujjuaq, Puvirnituq, Inukjuak, Salluit and

Kuujjuarapik. All were built in the summer 2011.


084 085

Renovation and expansion

of Hotel Forestel

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 1 2

This major renovation and

expansion of Hotel Forestel in

Val-d’Or, which began in 2018,

was carried out in several phases.

Rebuilding the exterior façades and expanding the rooms

in the east wing enhanced the quality of the hotel’s

accommodations and gave it a whole new architectural style.


086 087

Expansion and renovation

of the Val-d’Or regional

airport (ARVO)

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 1 2

The Northern Mining Transit Center

was expanded in 2012, and work

was carried out on the existing

airport terminal to modernize it and

combine the operations of the Center

and ARVO.

Designed to service a growing number of passengers, this

project also included adding a whole new floor to the existing

terminal in the second phase of the Northern Mining Transit

Center project. The work was meticulously planned and carried

out to avoid disrupting air travel. Certain facilities, like the

departure lounge, were given large windows and exposed wood

framing, lending them a warm and cozy ambience.


088 089

CHRD

C H I S A S I B I | 2 0 1 2

Regular wooden columns punctuate

the exterior shell of the Cree Human

Resources Development centre

in Chisasibi.

Masonry and metal cladding give this building an elegant,

understated appearance. Inside, the wood framework is also

visible and the floors are covered in black slate tiles, creating

a very warm and inviting ambience.


090 091

Music Conservatory

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 1 3

For this project, the expansion involved adding a multi-purpose

room, administrative spaces, rehearsal studios and classrooms

for teaching music.

The building’s architectural language is both simple

and minimalist. Exterior cladding marked with vertical

lines and façades broken up by seemingly randomly

placed openings add life to the pristine white envelope.

The relationship between masses and voids creates a

rhythm reminiscent of music and dance. In addition, as

a nod to the past, the main façade is enhanced with two

superimposed wood and aluminum screens that depict

the original 1938 windows and the construction of the

two schools, many years ago.


092 093

onrva

094 095


Community Centre

E A S T M A I N | 2 0 1 3

MLS was asked in 2000 to build an arena to be called the

Eastmain River Complex.

In 2011 the existing sports facility was enlarged with

a new gymnasium, a semi-Olympic swimming pool,

a community hall, offices and service rooms. The

architectural concept called for a main corridor parallel

to the existing arena’s southern façade. The curved

wooden frame injects energy into the exterior façades

and lends warmth to the interior spaces.

The geometric simplicity and fluidity of the expansion’s

form blends perfectly with the existing structures.

Along the tops of the walls, the new centre’s wide bands

of windows bathe swimmers in natural light while

protecting their privacy.


096 097

om


uni

098 099

Youth protection offices

P U V I R N I T U Q | 2 0 1 3

The interplay of curves and

straight lines results in a dynamic

architectural treatment that blends

with the northern landscapes while

referencing Inuit culture.

The building’s geometry and orientation, materials and

window work reflect the environmental conditions, sunshine,

winds and viewpoints along with the structure’s various

functions. Smooth materials like aluminum panels lend the

building a certain elegance, while bright colours and windows

infuse its façades with energy. Inside, functional spaces are

delimited by corridors. The ground floor primarily houses

public services with professionals’ offices located around

the perimeter, making it possible to channel public and

professional foot traffic through separate areas for security

and logistical reasons.


100 101

Major renovations to

Nunavik homes (KMHB)

N U N A V I K | 2 0 1 4

As part of a program of major

renovations to its housing stock,

the Kativik Municipal Housing

Bureau started work on over

160 multi-family duplexes and

quadruplexes in the communities

of Kuujjuaraapik, Umiujaq, Inukjuak,

Puvirniuq, Akulivik, Ivujivik,

Salluit, Quaqtaq, Kangiqsujuaq,

Kangirsuk, Aupaluk, Tasiujaq,

Kangiqsualujjuaq and Kuujjuaq

in Nunavik’s Inuit territory.

For eight consecutive years, MLS assigned a dedicated

team of architects and technicians to this major project,

which advanced at lightning speed between 2006 and 2013.

The renovations were carried out while keeping in mind the

client’s goal of maintaining its social housing in Nunavik’s

Inuit communities, which dates from the early 1980s.


102 103

Conference centre

P U V I R N I T U Q | 2 0 1 5

This new multi-purpose conference

centre overlooking the community

of Puvirnituq includes meeting

rooms and a restaurant able to seat

over 200 guests.

Administrative offices on the second floor round out the

project’s offerings. A glulam structure provides a framework

for tall interior spaces and supports an exterior skin that

further accentuates the building’s verticality.


104 105

Vallée-de-l’Or farmers’ market

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 1 6

Located in downtown Val-d’Or, the farmers’ market consists of a

permanent wooden structure and a connecting service building.

Supported by a glulam structure, the wide roof provides

shelter for some 20 vendors during the summer and

at harvest time. The covered section includes a wide

corridor that runs the length of the building, a multipurpose

space and associated services. Thanks to its

distinctive form and the generous use of wood, the

structure is a signpost for the farmers’ market and is a

worthy addition to the architectural heritage of the city

of Val-d’Or and the entire Vallée-de-l’Or region.


106 107

Professional

Training Center

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 1 6

Adjoining Val-d’Or’s Polyvalente

Le Carrefour secondary school,

the new vocational training centre

consists of a multi-purpose

workshop, a soldering workshop, a

research centre, a simulator training

centre and administrative spaces.

The architecture chosen for the Val-d’Or Professional Training

Centre conveys its primary function as a place of teaching and

research in professional development and clearly reflects the

mining specialization. It is a concept inspired by the material

and immaterial qualities associated with mining and puts the

one-of-a-kind expertise of the Centre national des mines front

and centre. A wall of gabions and the copper panels stacked in

layers on the research centre’s main volume pay tribute to that

unique identity.


108 109

entr

for

110 111


New police station

M I S T I S S I N I | 2 0 1 6

The conceptual approach plays up

the contrast between the lightness

of the large wooden roof capping

the building’s administrative spaces

and the concrete construction used

for its prison section.

Inside, the double-height lobby and work area are flooded in

natural light. The sloping exterior wall continues on the inside,

punctuated by a row of wooden columns. A corridor stretches

from the lobby to the rear of the building, crossing

a succession of rooms.


112 113

Training centres

W E M I N D J I E T W A S K A G A N I S H

2 0 1 5 E T 2 0 1 7

The Wemindji training centre

was delivered in 2015 and the

Waskaganish centre, in 2017.

Each building consists of two different masses. The linear

finesse of the main façade, composed of prefabricated concrete

panels and rectilinear sun screens, emphasizes horizontality

along the full length of the structure. Under this enormous

exterior skin lie the administrative spaces and theoretical

classrooms. A more vertical mass, with a sloped roof and

colourful metal siding, houses the multi-purpose workshops.

This volume is pierced by large openings that accentuate the

building’s geometry and allow natural light to enter. The timber

structure lends the building unique warmth.


114 115

rain

entr


116 117

Detention centre

A M O S | 2 0 1 7

The new Amos detention centre was

completed at a cost of $126 million.

Boasting 17,000 m 2 of surface space, the centre houses

170 cells in a cluster of five buildings. A key feature of the

architectural concept is the large atrium in the centre of

the project, which provides ample natural light.

In consortium with the firms Parizeau Pawluski and Provencher Roy.


118 119

ete


ion

120 121

Le Transit sports centre

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 1 8

The expansion project aimed to provide

Le Transit secondary school in Val-d’Or

with a new sports centre.

Ground floor amenities include a lobby, a gymnasium and adjacent spaces.

The second floor houses bleachers, a race track and a training room.

In their materials and colours, the new, streamlined façades provides a perfect

complement to the existing building. For the new gymnasium, the designers

applied the open-box principle: it seems to open to the exterior thanks to the

generous window work on the north side. This new approach to the traditional

gymnasium, too often isolated and closed off, creates a relationship with the

outdoors and provides natural light that appeals to users.


122 123


e T

it

124 125

Kativik School Board

housing

N U N A V I K | 2 0 1 9

This residential construction project

for the Kativik School Board aimed

to create a new prototype for northern

housing (duplexes and quadruplexes),

featuring simple, compact and

sustainable architecture.

We replaced the ventilated roof with sandwich-panel roofing

in the rooms, thereby raising the ceilings and eliminating

any risk of snow infiltrations or condensation in the attic

spaces. The boldly coloured exteriors brighten up the Nunavik

landscapes. Various constraints related to logistics and the

construction project’s remote location, including maritime

transport and the limited construction period due to weather

conditions, dictated the choice of light, easy-to-install materials.


126 127

Centre multisport Fournier

V A L - D ’ O R | 2 0 2 0

The Fournier sports complex in Val-d’Or

offers 6,390 m 2 of floor space.

The lobby, locker rooms, gymnastics floor, gym and storerooms are on the

ground floor, while the bleachers, a space for groups, a training room and

boxing and judo facilities are housed on the second floor.

While a contemporary architectural treatment was chosen for the new

complex, it harmonizes with the existing building in its materials and colours.

The concept proposes a juxtaposition of two monolithic blocks, with the

largest housing the sports facilities. That mass received a uniform and

understated treatment, while a glazed opening in the envelope lends

the side façade greater interest. The architectural treatment of the second

mass, home to the gymnastics floor, focuses mainly on the main façade.

The facilities receive easily regulated levels of natural light.


128 129

enre

m

130 131


FUTURE

Projects


132 133

G

E

N

021

4th

E

R

A

Growth

T

I

O

N

MLS is growing fast and more motivated than ever to

reach out and help meet the growing need for regional

and northern infrastructure. To achieve that end, it

is assembling an energetic and close-knit team of

architects, technologists and draftspersons.

Over the last five years, MLS has seen a strong interest

in the firm’s realizations in northern Québec among

young architects. The wealth of expertise it has acquired

in projects carried out in northwestern Québec, Eeyou

Istchee James Bay and Nunavik is attracting real

excitement among architects interested in northern

development. Young, creative and energetic architects

who share a love for nature and a pioneering spirit are

joining the firm. Moreover, MLS uses advanced tools

and technologies to be even more efficient, stringent

and innovative in its projects.

Today, the breath of fresh air they bring to the firm

heralds a promising future. Proud of its realizations

and their impact on the built environment across

this immense land, happy to provide services that

surpass clients’ expectations and pleased to uphold

sustainability principles in all its projects, MLS looks to

the future with confidence.


134 135

Kitiganik elementary

school

B A R R I E R E L A K E | 2 0 2 1

The Algonquins of Barriere

Lake make up a community in the

present-day reserve of Rapid Lake,

on the shores of Cabonga Reservoir

in the midst of La Vérendrye wildlife

reserve.

The site chosen for the new school is crowned with majestic

white pines and stands high over the shoreline, at the foot

of a significant drop. The circular concept developed for the

new school won over the hearts of community residents. The

textured façade, graced with plenty of windows, surrounds

the building’s convex mass. On the schoolyard side, the entirely

glazed façade offer building occupants direct contact with

nature. The centre point, from which radiating spokes give

the building its form, is marked by an immense teepee in the

middle of the schoolyard.


136 137

itig


lem

138 139

New elementary school

C H I S A S I B I | 2 0 2 1

The project seeks to develop a contemporary

architectural language in which building

volumes work in synergy with elements of

Cree culture.

The angles, the double walls and the way the structural elements are

expressed are meant to evoke the taut skins found in many elements of

Cree culture. In addition to reaffirming this cultural identity, the double

skin protects the entrances against the harsh northern climate. The project

has three main components: the first volume includes the main entrance

and student services that are also available to the community. At the

opposite end, an elongated volume houses the classrooms on two floors.

Between the two, an agora that is open on two floors and boasts an exposed

post-and-beam roof serves as a meeting place and opens to the outside,

the schoolyard to the north and the cultural space to the south.


140 141

New secondary school

I N U K J U A K | 2 0 2 1

Inukjuak’s secondary school will

be built on a rocky cape northeast

of the village.

To deal with the site’s irregular topography and minimize the

need to excavate bedrock, the building will be constructed

on three levels. Its architecture will evoke elements of Inuit

culture, like a skin stretched out over a driftwood or whalebone

frame or the frame of a canoe, or the whale skin covering its

baleen. Along with this cultural allusion, the building design

features compact forms in response to Nunavik’s severe weather.

The administrative area, classrooms and sports facilities are

each housed in sections that are distinct in both their volume

and facing. In the centre of the project, the atrium connects

the three components together.


142 143

Seniors’ residence

and alternative housing

A B I T I B I | 2 0 2 1

The construction of a seniors’ residence

and alternative housing in Abitibi

contributes to the MSSS’s goal of creating

living environments that reproduce seniors’

lives at home as closely as possible.

That goal is visible in the project’s architectural treatment and the way

the living spaces are physically arranged. The Abitibi development includes

three projects, in Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d’Or and Palmarolle.

This project is being realized in consortium with firms ARTCAD and

Provencher_Roy_BBBL


144 145

Expansion and renovation

of Tukisiniarvik School

A K U L I V I K | 2 0 2 1

Located in Akulivik, in Nunavik,

Tukisiniarvik Elementary School

will be expanded to make room

for secondary-level students.

A new wing will be built north of the existing school and

accessed via a walkway in line with the school’s main corridor,

which currently connects the southern (elementary) wing to

the central (kindergarten) wing. That north/south corridor

leads to the atrium, which is located in the heart of the north

(secondary) wing and provides a full-height view of Akulivik

Bay. The expansion’s mineral-inspired shape references the

surrounding landscapes, which are characterized by elongated

hills and rocky capes. The concrete plank siding anchors the

building in the ground, while the white aluminum panels form

a protective shell against Nunavik’s harsh weather. The use

of wood in the exposed framework and as interior finishing

in common spaces like the atrium, library and walkway

enhances the esthetic, acoustic and thermal properties of

the indoor environment. Interior and exterior renovations

of the existing school will accentuate the architecture’s

northern quality, rooting it in its environment and ensuring a

degree of uniformity throughout the project. The atrium lies at

the centre of the project where the three wings interconnect.


146 147

2030

2040

0 206

A Continuing

Story

We hope that this volume will not only showcase the

architectural realizations of MLS, but also demonstrate that

those achievements are the result of ongoing collaboration with

our invaluable clients. Backed by a 60-year legacy of creativity,

MLS continues to pursue the same goal as ever: to create

lasting buildings with elegant and understated architecture that

transcends time. By handing down the knowledge and expertise

acquired over the years to a new generation of architects, we

can ensure MLS’s future and sustain the culture of a firm that

takes pride in its work and in the mark it will continue to leave on

this immense territory.


148 149

Credits

Waswanipi multi-service centre | p.044

L.BOUCHARD, Jérôme (Photographer). Waswanipi, Québec (2020).

Eastmain Community Centre | p.096

L.BOUCHARD, Jérôme (Photographer). Eastmain, Québec (2020).

Photos - Nunavik in context | p.002, 004, 008, 010, 011, 012

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). Nunavik in context, Nunavik, Québec

(2020).

Photos - James Bay in context | p.036, 133

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). James Bay in context, James Bay,

Québec (2020).

Val-d’Or hospital Emergency department | p.046

DEROME-MASSÉ, Valérie (Photographer). Val-d’Or, Québec (2020).

Waswanipi vocational training centre | p.052


Kativik School Board administrative centre in Kuujjuaq | p.056

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). Kuujjuaq, Québec (2020).

Youth protection offices in Puvirnituq | p.100

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). Puvirnituq, Québec (2020).

Major renovations to Nunavik homes (KMHB) | p.102

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). Nunavik, Québec (2020).

Puvirnituq conference centre | p.104

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). Puvirnituq, Québec (2020).

Vue aérienne de la ville de Val-d’Or | p.005

Société d’histoire et de généalogie de Val-d’Or (Archive). Vue

aérienne de la ville de Val-d’Or, Val-d’Or, Québec (1969).

Annonce de la formation du bureau Monette | p.016

MONETTE, Marcel (Archive). L’annonce de la formation du bureau

Monette, Leclerc, St-Denis (1967).

Équipe de MLS au Palais de justice de Val-d’Or | p.019

MONETTE, Marcel (Archive). L’équipe de MLS au Palais de justice

de Val-d’Or (1967).

Val-d’Or city hall | p.021

Services d’urbanisme Ville de Val-d’Or (Archive). Hôtel de ville de

Val-d’Or, Val-d’Or, Québec (1964).

Val-d’Or cultural centre | p.022

MONETTE, Marcel (Archive). Centre culturel de Val-d’Or, Val-d’Or,

Québec (1965).

Notre-Dame-de-Fatima Church in Val-d’Or | p.024

Société d’histoire et de généalogie de Val-d’Or (Archive). Église

Notre-Dame-de-Fatima, Val-d’Or, Québec (1966).

L’Étape youth centre in Val-d’Or | p.028


Saint-Sauveur hospital | p.030

Société d’histoire et de généalogie de Val-d’Or (Archive). Hôpital

Saint-Sauveur, Val-d’Or, Québec (1987).

Place du Québec | p.032

Société d’histoire et de généalogie de Val-d’Or (Archive). Place du

Québec, Val-d’Or, Québec (1991).

Waswanipi medical clinic | p.040


Waskaganish Annie Whiskeychan Memorial Elementary

School | p.042

L.BOUCHARD, Jérôme (Photographer). Waskaganish, Québec (2020).

Centre Air Creebec expansion in Val-d’Or | p.058


Northern Mining Transit Center in Val-d’Or | p.060


Val-d’Or courthouse expansion | p.062

GOSSELIN, Serge (Photographer). Val-d’Or, Québec (2010).

First Peoples Pavilion in Val-d’Or | p.066

GOSSELIN, Serge (Photographer). Val-d’Or, Québec (2010).

Expansion of Le Tremplin secondary school in Malartic | p.072

GOSSELIN, Serge (Photographer). Malartic, Québec (2010).

The Trait-d’Union Centre in Malartic | p.074


CHSLD Villa St-Martin in Malartic | p.076


Chisasibi Waapinichikush School | p.078

L.BOUCHARD, Jérôme (Photographer). Chisasibi, Québec (2020).

Salle Félix-Leclerc | p.082

LAGROIS, Geneviève (Photographer). Val-d’Or, Québec (2011).

Kuujjuarapik multiple-unit housing (RRSSSN) | p.084

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). Kuujjuaq, Québec (2020).

Renovation and expansion of Hotel Forestel in Val-d’Or | p.086


Expansion and renovation of the Val-d’Or airport | p.088


Val-d’Or music conservatory | p.092


Vallée-de-l’Or farmers’ market | p.106

LAGROIS, Geneviève (Photographer). Val-d’Or, Québec (2016).

Val-d’Or Professional training Centre | p.108

Marchand, Karen (Photographer). Val-d’Or, Québec (2017).

New Mistissini police station | p.112

L.BOUCHARD, Jérôme (Photographer). Mistissini, Québec (2020).

Wemindji et Waskaganish training centres | p.114

L.BOUCHARD, Jérôme (Photographer). Wemindji et Waskaganish,

Québec (2020).

Amos detention centre | p.118

BRÜGGER, Stéphane (Photographer). Amos, Québec (2017).

Le Transit de Val-d’Or sports centre | p.122

ROBERT, Marie-Claude (Photographer). Amos, Québec (2018).

Kativik School Board housing | p.126

HOBBS, Alexi (Photographer). Kativik, Québec (2020).

Centre multisport Fournier | p.128


60 Years of Architecture

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