Pavillon de la Jamaïque

The restoration of the Jamaica Pavilion, built for Expo 67 and located on Montreal's Île Notre-Dame, was aimed at transforming the emblematic building into a multifunctional venue while respecting its heritage character. The pavilion was to host a variety of activities, including meetings, receptions, exhibitions, conferences and film shoots. To preserve the history of this former pavilion, an in-depth heritage study was carried out to highlight the pavilion's elements of interest, securing the approval of the Commission du patrimoine de Montréal.

The mandate entrusted to Réal Paul Architecte included the preparation of technical plans and specifications for the complete refurbishment of the architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical components, while integrating the requirements for universal accessibility. The main challenge of the project was to adapt the heritage building to modern accessibility standards without compromising its architectural integrity. Among the universal accessibility interventions, a gentle slope was favored to avoid the addition of a ramp, the interior was designed to be barrier-free, with the elimination of thresholds between different floor coverings, and automatic doors were installed.

Architecturally, a key element of this restoration was the rehabilitation of the original cedar shingle roof, in keeping with the pavilion's heritage character. Inside, the space was redesigned to meet contemporary needs. The ground-floor great room was transformed into a multi-purpose hall capable of hosting up to 200 people, and accessible bathrooms were added for the comfort of users. This project brought the landmark Expo 67 building back to life, while bringing it up to modern requirements for hosting a variety of events and cultural activities.