Montréal
The Island of Montreal’s transit authority (Société de transport de Montréal, or STM) manages an extensive network of subway stations and bus routes, serviced by transport centres for vehicle maintenance and repair. Strong growth in demand for public transit led the STM to expand its fleet by 300 vehicles, creating the need for an additional transport centre.
The design intent was to weave the project into the surrounding urban fabric, integrating building, site and landscape into a singular and cohesive ensemble. It drew on contextual components such as the industrial language of neighbouring factories, actively participating in the streetscape and helping the overall rejuvenation of the sector.
Sustainability:
The ecological footprint of this large transport centre was of particular concern to the client. Certified LEED Gold, a Quebec first for this type of building, the project features a multitude of sustainable design strategies:
With its reduced ecological footprint and low maintenance fees, the client can save more than $925,000 per year. Optimized internal circulation is time-saving. The working environment was also designed with employee safety and overall health in mind, which should reduce medical leaves and on-site accidents.
The Stinson transport centre is a prototype for the STM; it will become the benchmark for all future facilities of the corporation. It is the first such facility to provide internal circulation for both normal buses and double-length buses. This is a radical departure from previous projects, where outdoor bus transit from garage to workshop or to street was the norm: a very high standard for any transit authority.
The clever design helped mitigate the negative perception of a 24-hour transport facility, by hiding from view most of the bus circulation and reducing noise and pollution. The roofscape provides a visually engaging landscape for citizens and the building’s occupants.
Statistics
Status: Built
Location: Montreal, QC, CA