École Irénée-Lussier

This ambitious new school, operated by the Centre des Services Scolaires de Montreal (CSSDM), represents a significant public investment, offering state-of-the-art amenities for children and young adults with autism and intellectual disabilities. Developed through extensive research by our design team, the landscape spaces cater to the diverse needs of the students, including areas for active play with scooters and balls, physical challenges such as climbing mounds, and spaces for social interactions, with seating, communal tables, and community gardens. Strict security measures were seamlessly integrated, while a key focus was placed on maximizing the presence of large-caliper trees, providing students and teachers with the well-documented stress-reducing benefits of being surrounded by living plants. The site was decontaminated and capped, with the entire landscape built atop a thick layer of compacted aggregate fill. One of the project’s greatest achievements is its verdant quality, which flourishes despite the barren site it was constructed on.

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Team:

Sophie Robitaille  Partner, CSLA, ASLA, AAPQ

Kim Chayer  Architecte, OAQ

Simon Gafner

Samuel Lavoie

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Photography © Nanne Springer