Philippe-Boucher Outdoor Rink

Designed to NHL dimensions, the facility features an ice surface protected from the elements by a large roof structure, allowing for four-season use. While skating takes place from November through May, the space is transformed during the warmer months to accommodate pickleball and basketball courts. Located within a park already animated by numerous recreational facilities, the project was carefully integrated to create continuity between the various amenities while preserving the site's landscape quality. A cedar-clad service pavilion discreetly conceals the mechanical equipment, extending the architectural language of the overall composition.

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The project is defined by a striking hybrid timber-and-steel roof structure that clearly expresses its structural logic. Hybrid trusses with variable-depth top chords are supported by slender V-shaped timber columns, creating an architectural gesture that is both elegant and structurally efficient. This innovative system spans 30 metres without intermediate supports, sheltering not only the ice surface but also the players' benches and spectator seating. Generous cantilevers extend in both directions, protecting the structure from water while contributing to its long-term durability. Recipient of awards from both the Canadian Wood Council and Cecobois, the project demonstrates the architectural and structural potential of timber in the design of large-scale outdoor recreational infrastructure.

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