The École Secondaire du Bosquet represents how architecture can shape quality of life by encouraging innovation and inspiration. This new educational facility, designed by ABCP, Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux, and Bilodeau Baril Leeming Architectes, is part of a broader vision introduced by the Quebec government in 2020 to redefine the architectural identity of schools. This initiative aims to create environments that inspire excellence and enrich the educational experience.
Situated on the edge of a wooded area in Drummondville’s Saint-Nicéphore district, the school opened its doors in autumn 2024. Its design was profoundly influenced by its natural surroundings, resulting in a building that provides a functional learning space.
Embracing the Forest
The architectural concept of École Secondaire du Bosquet is rooted in the idea of placing the surrounding woodland at the core of its identity. Jean-Pierre LeTourneux, senior associate architect and lead designer, explained that the intention was to integrate the forest as an essential part of the project, ensuring that the school and its natural surroundings feel connected. The school’s design echoes the layers of the landscape, creating a harmonious relationship between the built environment and its natural setting.
Transparency and vertical relief characterize the structure, mirroring the interaction of light and shadow found at the forest’s edge. Large windows bring natural light into the space, further strengthening the connection to the outdoors. The thoughtful use of materials, such as bronze-colored aluminum panels, evokes the warm, filtered light that dances through tree canopies, increasing the school’s ambiance.
Pathways Through Nature
Visitors to École Secondaire du Bosquet are immediately immersed in its natural setting. The Biophilic Square serves as a welcoming communal space, where outdoor benches encourage interaction and reflection. This area opens up to views of the surrounding woodland, reinforcing the school’s integration with its environment.
The connection with nature extends inside, with spaces like the central library bathed in natural light. Adjacent to the library, an auditorium and a wide circulation area provide opportunities for gathering and engagement. These spaces are designed to maintain a fluid dialogue with the outdoors, allowing students and staff to feel a constant presence of the surrounding forest.
A Symphony of Light and Design
The extensive use of windows on all facades creates an ever-changing interaction between the interior and the forested exterior. Sunshades in bronze tones complement these windows, providing practical shading while echoing the earthy hues of the surrounding landscape. This careful attention to detail ensures the school is both functional and visually connected to its setting.
Outdoor areas further increase the integration of the school with its environment. From the public square at the entrance to the inner courtyard, the design encourages interaction with nature. A stepped opening between the sports complex and the main building acts as a transitional space, inviting students and visitors to move effortlessly between the constructed and natural worlds.
Project Team: ABCP, Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux, Bilodeau Baril Leeming Architectes
Lead Designer: Jean-Pierre LeTourneux
Designers: Thibault Bayard, Matthieu Nicolas Devito et Pierre Guimont
Project Manager: François Moreau
Assistant Project Manager: Pascale Ouellet-Dompierre
Principal-in-Charge: Anik Shooner
In charge of site supervision: Jean-Sébastien Gravel
Director of Sustainable Development: Nadia Bini
Client: Centre de services scolaire des Chênes
Mechanical/Electrical Engineers: EXP | LGT
Structure/Civil: CIMA+
Construction manager: EBC
Landscape architecture: Projet Paysage
Photographer: Stéphane Brügger
Name: École secondaire du Bosquet
Location: Drummondville (Saint-Nicéphore sector), Quebec, Canada
Area: 19,319 m²
Program: 43 classrooms, 6 science labs, 8 arts facilities, 400-seat auditorium, 5 sports facilities, including a quadruple gymnasium, and numerous collaborative spaces.
LEED® v4 Silver certification targeted
First school year: August 2024
Inauguration: November 4, 2024
Awards received: Distinction Award, Association de l’enveloppe et des revêtements muraux du Québec, 2024 and Platinum Winner – Architecture, Concept & Unbuilt, Grands Prix du Design
