• Quebec City Circus School
  • Quebec City Circus School
  • Quebec City Circus School
  • Quebec City Circus School

Quebec City Circus School

École de cirque de Québec

Category

Culture , Restoration and rehabilitation , Education, sports and leisure


Client

École de cirque de Québec


Location

Quebec (Québec) / Canada

Date

2011


Budget

2,2 M$ (phase I) et 4,4 M$ (phase II)

Area

3 790 m²


Credits

ABCP architecture


Awards and mentions

  • Mérite d’architecture de la Ville de Québec, Prix Spécial du jury, Prix du public et Prix Recyclage de bâtiment


Description

The initial challenge of this project (2002) was to create circus art teaching, training, production, and performance spaces within the Saint-Esprit Church, which dates back to 1930. The huge technical areas, including those under the roof, provided ample space for the structural and electromechanical components. The interior work, limited to certain areas and carried out in harmony with the exceptional existing interior architecture, has a powerful impact, expressing the high-energy, fantastical, magical spirit of the circus.

 

A public square was then designed and the first phase—a huge staircase—was completed.

During the final renovation phase, three mezzanines were added to expand the interior, the building’s shell was restored, and the public square was finished.