BIBLIOTHÈQUE ET ARCHIVES NATIONALES DU QUÉBEC
The BAnQ building houses a Québec heritage collection and the new universal lending and reference collection. The external covering, composed of translucent strips of glass, evokes the landscape of the Great North. Inside, the collections are harboured in two vast wooden chambers, which filter light and sound without, however, closing off the spaces. From the great hall, lined with majestic columns, there is a vertical fluid and efficient circulation, due to panoramic stairs and elevators. Another route, a genuine promenade, leads to reading areas, multiplying views of the interior and glimpses of the city. The ever-present natural light serves to express the unique character of this site that welcomes more than 5,000 visitors a day.