JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West
Beaconsfield has taken several important steps toward the long-awaited creation of a multi-purpose cultural centre in Centennial Park this past month. As architectural contest finalists draft potential designs for the centre, a recent announcement ensures that the project will receive additional financial support from both the federal and Quebec governments.
In a joint announcement on April 29, federal and provincial officials unveiled a plan to invest a combined $3.1 million into the project, whose total cost is estimated to be around $20 million.
The facility will ensure that “culture is at the forefront and preserved for years to come,” said Lac-Saint-Louis MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who was on hand for the announcement.
Meanwhile, the municipality’s architectural design challenge is in full swing as four finalists are currently drafting blueprints and budgets for the new centre.
The four architecture groups competing for the project are: Chevalier Moralès, In Situ + DMA; Lemay, Bouthillette Parizeau, Elema; and Saunders Architecture, Bourgeois Lechasseur architectes, Option Aménagement, Stantec.
The contest, which is currently in its second phase, will see the finalists submit their plans to a panel of judges by Tuesday, June 11. The designs will then be presented to the public for open consultations on Tuesday, July 2.
The new centre will include a library, study and meeting rooms, spaces for community activities, courses and leisure, and a café-bistro. The construction will also offer a view of Lake St. Louis.
The centre will be made to “unite” the park with the Centennial Marina, according to a press release issued on behalf of Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle.
“Ultimately, the park will retain all its splendour and offer a greater area for visitors and activities, extending right down to the water’s edge,” according to the statement.
The municipality’s “Imagine Centennial” project held its first citizens forum to pitch ideas on how to utilize the park space back in 2015.
It is expected that the new centre will be opened in 2027, according to the city.