the exhibitions are animalfilled and sensory-stimulating, the clean membrane-like wall offers visitors a chance for introspection. Practically, it also disguises most of the facility’s mechanical equipment. During construction, the thin profile and lightweight structure also allowed for installation with minimal noise, limiting the disruption to the animals and their environments. Outside of the ecosystems, KANVA and NEUF’s plan reorganized many of the public spaces on the main floor, freeing up the grand hall and extending a new central hub to the ceiling. Their design also made use of the Biodôme’s height – a mezzanine was added above the redesigned Sub-Polar Regions, framing the ceiling structure and offering new vantage points for visitors and staff. New passages from two of the ecosystems were also added to service this mezzanine, which allows viewers “a more diversified trajectory” during their visit, while also adding additional points of rest. Furthermore, the awardwinning design celebrates the existing building’s heritage in several ways. For example, the building already featured luminous skylights – the new wall redirects the visual focus of visitors up to those skylights. Also, in the newly opened atrium, two concrete staircases from the original velodrome have become “important anchors” in the space. Overall, according to the Canadian Architect jury, “the scheme offers a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach that both enhances the existing heritage building and expands the programmatic functions of belangerdesign.ca Photo : Montréal Biodôme’s signage, by bélanger makers of fine Canadian wayfinding where the art of finding the way becomes science +1 514 842-2828 THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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