Giant Steps School project scope was revised to develop an innovative hub at Technopôle Angus, a former brownfield site turned avant-garde eco-district in Montreal’s Rosement-La Petite-Patrie neighbourhood. The center is an educational facility that addresses the needs and preferences of students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Begun in 2019, the building was commissioned by Giant Steps, a private school founded in 1980 to provide services for the learning and employment of those affected by autism. Welcoming children and young adults aged 4-21, the Center houses a library, a gymnasium, offices, training and research facilities, and classrooms for preschool, elementary and secondary education.
The 3-storey building is placed on a plot size of 6028 sqm such that its curving form on the southern side encloses a learning courtyard, shielded away from the street. Designed with inputs from occupational therapists to introduce children to different visual and tactile stimuli, the courtyard serves as a protected recreational area with different materials, textures, and surfaces.
The building itself is designed in precast concrete, with gold-colored metallic cladding for a warm and inviting effect. The curved façade is composed of panels that—in addition to offering solar and acoustic protection—direct views from the school towards the playground, reinforcing feelings of safety and privacy.
The architects worked with the school to completely rethink the typical classroom layout to accommodate the special needs of students and teachers, and facilitate behavioral research. For example, classrooms are programmed on the quieter north side of the building; learning pods are integrated in spaces and feature circular seating overhung by large oculi-like light fixtures. Made with stretched canvas, the innovative fixtures control lighting intensities and double up as a noise-reducing device which helps students better concentrate. Their different shapes and sizes lend a poetic and playful rhythm to ceilings above.
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