THE NATIONAL MOUNTAIN CENTRE PROJECT



Architects: SAUCIER + PERROTTE ARCHITECTS
Client: National Mountain centre
Team: Gilles Saucier (design architect), André Perrotte (architect-in-charge), Marc Boutin, Guillaume Sasseville, Trevor Davies, David Moreaux, Lawrence Siu, Jean-Philippe Beauchamp, Adam Scales, Patrice Begin
Completion: 2009
Area: 55 000 square feet
Location: Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Cost: 35 000 000 $ can



In 2002, a group of committed mountain enthusiasts based in the Canadian Rockies came together with a vision to create a national centre devoted to celebrating, understanding and better experiencing the mountains.
In 2006, the founding board of the NMC commissioned Saucier + Perrotte Architects and Marc Boutin Architects to develop an initial architectural concept for the proposed centre.



Located in Canmore, Alberta, north of the Trans Canada highway at the gateway to Banff National Park, the NMC will promote responsible and sustainable tourism, serving a crucial role in interpreting the nature, history, culture, science and sport of Canada’s mountains.



Inspired by geological strata, the centre will consist of juxtaposed layers; different activities will take place within, on and under the delaminated layers. Visitors will have a spatial experience analogous to that of a mountain hike with a continuous promenade with mountain views and exhibited artifacts. The mountains themselves will become a permanent exhibit with distinct views framed by the spaces between the centre’s strata.



As one of Western Canada’s great icons – a 5,110 m2 preeminent tourist destination attracting visitors from all walks of life, the centre will consist of recreational, commercial and public spaces with features such as a world-class competitive climbing wall, permanent and temporary exhibits, research, meeting facilities, and state-of-the-art multimedia presentation theatres.



Canadian Architecture

Toronto building : WESTside Lofts

American buildings

Toronto Architecture : Will Alsop exhibition

Canadian building : Royal Ontario Museum



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National Mountain Centre Building - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt