Built along the St. Lawrence river in the city of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, the Amphithéâtre Cogeco is a new performing arts venue by Atelier Paul Laurendeau, who won the competition to design the project in 2011. The project site was once occupied by a paper mill that shut down in the early 2000s, and the City of Trois-Rivières wanted a new recreational and cultural landmark in town.

Named after telecommunications company Cogeco, the amphitheater was constructed in 2015 and the project site was completed in 2016. Atelier Paul Laurendeau designed the amphitheater at a monumental scale while maintaining a “light elegance” that makes the building inviting and open to all. 

The building's main functional elements are all housed under the roof, including the foyer, bar, seats, the stage, stage equipment storage, loading docks, and dressing rooms. “Four slender aluminum columns frame the entrance foyer, stage, and service functions [...] Instead of a typical door, an opening in a side wall leads the public to the VIP seating area and provides discrete access to the restrooms,” therefore creating a “dramatic” transition between spaces.

“Black steel side-walls with vertical strip lighting frame the view around the stage. The recessed fly tower’s volume, with alternating red vertical bands, connects the lower backstage building with the metal roof surface. The glazed facade of the main entrance foyer reflects light at sunset.”

Check out more project photos, drawings, and a video below.