Claude-Robillard Sports Complex : Major Transformation of a Historic Site

Built for the 1976 Olympic Games, the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex is one of the most iconic sports centers in Montreal and Eastern Canada. This historic site, which also serves as a national training center, features nearly twenty indoor sports facilities spread across more than 48,000 m² and welcomes elite athletes, sports organizations, and citizens from all walks of life each year, in the heart of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. After nearly 50 years of operation, the complex is undergoing a major transformation to ensure the long-term sustainability of its facilities. This extensive renovation project aims to preserve the site’s architectural and functional identity while implementing safety improvements for occupants and addressing issues related to the aging of certain building components.

A human-centered approach

Targeted improvements, both aesthetic and functional, have been implemented in several key areas, including the double gymnasium, the swimming pool, and the multi-purpose sports hall, as well as in most of the complex’s public spaces. At the heart of this initiative, the integration of an open and inclusive universal changing room profoundly transforms the swimming pool users’ experience by promoting more fluid and accessible pathways for everyone.

Sustainable development measures, such as a new rainwater retention basin for water from the roofs, new high-efficiency HVAC equipment, new LED lighting fixtures, and new low-flow plumbing fixtures, among others, have been incorporated to aim for LEED Silver certification.

The modernization of the facilities will provide more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable spaces, while enhancing the site’s appeal on a metropolitan scale. It is also part of an effort to revitalize a significant built heritage, ensuring its longevity for decades to come.