National Bank Head Office Competition
Montreal, QC
In partnership with Jodoin Lamarre Pratte Architectes, Chevalier Morales submitted a project proposal for the new Head Office of the National Bank of Canada. The tower is positioned prominently in the iconic downtown area, establishing it as a landmark building in the 21st-century urban landscape of Montreal.
Located on Saint-Jacques Street, the building stands alongside the banking institutions that historically forged Montreal's first business center. It perpetuates the mineral tradition of Old Montreal by reinterpreting the stone colonnade in the materiality of its base while its striking glass and aluminum tower, adorned with a white silkscreen pattern that decreases in opacity based on its orientation, reflects the city's modern identity. Its aesthetic evokes a luminous iceberg, slightly distorted by prevailing southwesterly winds.
The Head Office design is flexible and adaptable, featuring hybrid workspaces that host various professional environments. These spaces include traditional workstations, collaborative areas, and creative and relaxation zones.
The quality of the indoor environments, the lifecycle of the components, and the energy efficiency constitute key considerations that guide the design. Aiming for LEED Platinum and numerous WELL certifications, the proposal employs strategies like passive natural ventilation, local and sustainable materials use, light pollution control, and silkscreened glass that regulates temperature.
