Since 1954, the organization Sun Youth has played an essential role in Montreal’s social fabric. Each year, it supports more than 30,000 people through a wide range of services, from food assistance to social integration, as well as sports, education, and community support.

To continue its mission under optimal conditions, the organization undertook the construction of its own community house—an inclusive and accessible living environment bringing all its services together under one roof.

The building, with a surface area of approximately 40,000 sq. ft., is spread over three levels and is integrated directly into the heart of the neighborhood, near Jarry Park and just steps from De Castelnau metro station.

This new community center, officially inaugurated on June 16, 2026, marks a major milestone in the organization’s history.

The project aimed to build a multifunctional community center designed as a social model addressing the real needs of the community. It notably includes:

• A grocery-store–style food bank
• Reception and meeting spaces
• A gymnasium and changing rooms
• Multipurpose rooms (arts, dance, music, martial arts)
• A study and tutoring room
• A community kitchen and cafeteria
• A clothing distribution center
• Multipurpose spaces dedicated to the community

More than just a building, it is a true social ecosystem designed to promote inclusion, dignity, and well-being.

The building is fully powered by a geothermal system, a solution still rare at this scale in the industry. The geothermal wells, integrated directly beneath the site, significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The innovative design is based on four-pipe geothermal heat pumps, allowing simultaneous heating and cooling to meet building demands. This system also enables energy to be rejected back into the geothermal field during peak periods, thereby optimizing overall building efficiency. An auxiliary electric boiler provides redundancy and ensures operational continuity. In addition, counterflow heat recovery units preheat incoming outdoor air with high efficiency, reaching up to 90% in winter and around 80% in summer. This strategy directly contributes to reducing the building’s overall energy demand.

Photovoltaic panels integrated into the façade along Saint-Laurent Avenue by Repentigny Électrique enable on-site energy production. Designed in a beige tone that blends with the architecture, they enhance energy performance while preserving the building’s aesthetic quality. The electricity generated is stored in a battery bank to reduce reliance on the hydroelectric grid. In addition, high-induction architectural ducts provide ventilation, heating, and cooling for community spaces, combining energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality.

Produced and installed by Nordic Structures, the glulam mass timber structure is fully aligned with the project’s goal of reducing the building’s carbon footprint. As a renewable material, wood both stores carbon and reduces the environmental impacts associated with the production of concrete and steel.

In this project, the structure is largely left exposed, creating a warm and biophilic atmosphere while also accelerating the schedule through off-site prefabrication. Structural elements—including gymnasium beams spanning up to 90 feet—were fully prefabricated and assembled off-site due to site space constraints. They were then transported and installed with remarkable precision, supported by carefully orchestrated logistics.

Thanks to BIM modeling, installation proceeded smoothly and efficiently, with only one non-conformance identified across the entire structure, which was quickly corrected. An exceptional performance for a project of this scale.

Ultimately, the use of glulam timber reduced the project’s embodied carbon emissions by more than 20%.

Given the impossibility of preserving the existing infrastructure on site, the team quickly turned to the use of responsible materials. The exterior cladding therefore incorporates a significant proportion of recycled brick, skillfully installed by Maçonnerie GY, helping to reduce the project’s overall environmental footprint. Material reuse also played a key role throughout construction, supported by rigorous waste management practices and the integration of eco-responsible equipment at every stage of execution.