Bourgie Hall: Music at Heart

Music At Heart
25
The facade of the church was completely restored. Damaged stones were
replaced, and a new entrance was built in front. Inside, the basement was
excavated at ground level to give it more space and make it a real foyer connected
to the underground gallery, while the choir was redesigned for staging purposes.
The original church pews in the orchestra level were removed and replaced
with movable chairs designed by Michel Dallaire, to ensure the versatility of the
new seating arrangements. The pews in the balcony level, once restored, were
retained.
To prepare Bourgie Hall for its musical vocation, permanent sound and lighting
installations were added. Go Multimedia (stage and electronics) and Legault
& Davidson (acoustics consultants) provided Bourgie Hall with professional
equipment to meet the high standards of today’s state-of-the-art venues. The
cherry wood acoustic shell, the wood floors, the addition of sound-absorbing
material on the rear walls and the acoustic reflectors in the centre of the ceiling
all enhance the sound qualities of the hall and maximize its intrinsic qualities.
Although the
acoustics of the
church have always
been excellent,
these improvements
have ensured that
the sound remains
optimal whether the
audience is seated
in the orchestra or
the balcony levels.
Construction of the Claire and Marc Bourgie
Pavilion of Quebec and Canadian Art of the
MMFA and restoration of the Erskine and
American Church, now Bourgie Hall
Photo: Bernard Fougères