Carrefour international Brian-Mulroney

The pavilion brings together the École supérieure d’études internationales and several functions dedicated to international affairs, languages, and student life, along with spaces for conferences, official meetings, and major events. This diverse program unfolds along a linear atrium that opens generously onto the sponge forest and the public plaza. Acting as the project’s true backbone, this interior space extends the landscape into the building, organizes its various functions, and creates multiple visual connections between levels. Common areas, gathering spaces, and the main foyer are woven into the atrium, transforming circulationin to an inhabited space that encourages interaction and a sense of belonging.

At the heart of this composition, the international simulation laboratory takes the form of a freestanding circular volume, conceived as a strong architectural element within the atrium. Its geometry naturally evokes the negotiation and dialogue spaces of major international institutions. Crowned by a skylight, its timber volume is revealed behind an opalescent fritted-glass envelope that plays with varying degrees of transparency and offers glimpses of the activity within. Mass timber construction contributes more broadly to the pavilion’s materiality and architectural expression while supporting its environmental ambitions. Targeting LEED Gold and Zero Carbon Building – Design certifications, the project combines natural light, openness to the landscape, and a restrained approach to construction to create a new architectural landmark on campus dedicated to international dialogue and exchange.