News

The program for the Journées de la culture 2023 has just been unveiled. Three days (September 29 to October 1) of free activities open to all, to promote access to the arts and culture for as many people as possible.

This year, architecture is in a class of its own, with over 15 offices offering a wide range of activities, including experimental workshops, guided tours and even opening their offices to the public (young and old alike) to discover all the facets of the architectural profession.

DMA is jumping on the bandwagon and will be welcoming the public to its premises on Friday September 29 and Saturday September 30 from 10am to 4pm. We'll be revealing the content of our activities shortly.

It is with a great feeling of pride that we have just been informed that Jozef Zorko has been officially nominated to the College of Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

A Montrealer by birth and by heart, Jozef Zorko has dedicated his career to the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of built heritage through his many projects of varying scale involving classified buildings by federal, provincial and municipal authorities.

Starting in 1984 at DMA architects with Maurice-Desnoyers (also an RAIC Fellow who passed away last January) and André Mercure, the renovation and expansion of an industrial building intended to house a public market, specialized stores and movie theatres was his first challenge. This new complex will become the very famous Faubourg Ste-Catherine completed in 1987.

The following decade will see two main lines of his professional career take shape, namely the preservation and rehabilitation of Canadian heritage architectural jewels and the science of construction, particularly that dedicated to building envelopes. This expertise was supported by a thorough knowledge of, and passion for, the Construction Code and Standards, a subject on which he has become an uncontested expert.

His track record and accomplishments attest to his ability to deal with complexity. The redevelopment of the Supreme Court of Canada (Ottawa), the interior renovations of the Justice Building (Ottawa), the conservation and rehabilitation of the Library of Parliament (Ottawa) illustrate, among other projects, his ability to develop unique conservation strategies adapted to the challenges encountered.

Beyond his profession as an architect and generous by nature, Jozef also passes on his expertise to the next generation by teaching the Building Code and construction standards to future architects at the OAQ for nearly 35 years.

The adventure continues. He has recently been entrusted with the role of architect responsible for heritage conservation in the major rehabilitation project of the National Printing Bureau in Gatineau, on behalf of Public Works and Government Services Canada. This is the fourth building signed Ernest-Cormier (also an RAIC Fellow) on which Jozef has worked during his career as an architect, after the Supreme Court of Canada, the Montreal Courthouse (Ernest-Cormier Building) and the Roger-Gaudry Pavilion of the Université de Montréal.

This is a true consecration, a well-deserved tribute to a rich career and great achievements that make the entire DMA team proud.

Congratulations Jozef.

WE ARE IN MOURNING

Today, the entire DMA team is in mourning. We have lost one of our two founders with the death of Maurice Desnoyers. It is with great sadness that we learned of his passing at the age of 95 on Monday, December 12, 2022.

We owe the audacity of our team to Maurice Desnoyers, and every day in our practice we maintain the same fervor as that which animated him on a daily basis, making him an incomparable and unforgettable character when we had the good fortune to cross his path. His spirit is at the heart of what we are today and of our motto. Knowing how to dare. To know how to do.

Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones as they go through these dark hours.

Since September 26th, we have moved to 3970 St-Ambroise Street. It is in the Dominion Warehouses, more precisely on the 3rd floor, that our new headquarters has been established for the next decade at least. After 22 years at 655 Desnoyers Street in the St-Henri district, we wanted a space that would be more in line with today's needs, but especially those of tomorrow.

It all began in 1957 in St-Hyacinthe with Maurice Desnoyers and André Mercure, the two founders of Desnoyers Mercure associés (DMA), the name of our office at the time. During these years, we carried out numerous mandates in the St-Hyacinthe region, where Mr. Desnoyers was originally from. Among them, the St-Hyacinthe courthouse, the competition for the Quebec pavilion (Expo67), but also the renovation of the Vendome metro station in Montreal.

To find out more about the history of DMA architects, read on ...

It's done! Or almost ... since our official move will take place on September 22. Our entire team will work remotely the week of September 19th and will gradually move in during the week of September 26th.

We can't wait to get settled and start our new adventures at 3970 St-Ambroise (Dominion Warehouse). Of course we are also very excited to share this with you, customers and partners, the next time you visit us.

Check our social media platforms to follow the progress of this great adventure.

We officially say goodbye to 655 Desnoyers Street on September 16th after 20 exciting years.

To be continued ...

"The Ministry of Higher Education grants $66.1 million to Polytechnique as part of a project to acquire, expand and redevelop space in two pavilions.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, the student population at Polytechnique has increased by 71%. A large proportion of the existing spaces in the main pavilion are no longer adapted to today's teaching needs. Many have not been upgraded since they were built in 1958 or expanded in 1978.

The acquisition and expansion of the J.-Armand Bombardier Pavilion, vacated after the University of Montreal's move to the Science Campus (MIL Campus) will address some of the shortfall.

In 2019, we were mandated (in consortium with NFOE and Projet Paysage) by Polytechnique Montreal to plan the long-term vision of the campus. After this planning mandate, we are now realizing in consortium with NFOE, Provencher Roy and Projet Paysage the redevelopment/renovation of the main pavilion as well as the expansion of the J.-Armand-Bombardier pavilion consisting of vast spaces for exchange and student life allowing to link the different pavilions and to correct important problems of circulation and accessibility. Partly underground, the proposed concept is in keeping with a vision of greening the site and integrating completely with its topography, while creating an outdoor pathway for pedestrians linking the campus to Mount Royal Park.

We are very proud to participate in this new project, which is an extension of the research related to the functional organization of the entire campus that we have been conducting since 2018.

 

The suspense ends here and now. We are finally revealing the place where we are going to settle down for at least the next decade.

It is in the Dominion Warehouses, located at 3970 St-Ambroise Street that we will be moving starting at the end of September.

We will occupy the 3rd floor as well as the mezzanine and you, as a client, partner or future employee will enjoy the breathtaking view of the Lachine Canal, the proximity of the Atwater Market and the bicycle path.

Follow our social networks and soon pictures of us at our workstations will be available.

Excitement is growing as the big move approaches. The reorganization of the interior spaces is underway. Everything will be ready for the big day.

This is the end of a chapter in the 22-year history of the DMA book at 655 Desnoyers Street. But the story continues with new adventures. We look forward to beginning this new chapter with you.

To be continued ...

After 22 years at 655 Desnoyers Street, its headquarters, DMA has chosen to start another chapter in its history.

We're staying in St-Henri, a neighborhood we particularly appreciate, but we decided to move to a space that is more like us, adapted to our current needs while being closer to where things are happening.

You won't know more for now but follow our social media and very soon the where, when and how will be revealed to you. For now, we are busy packing our boxes.

Stay tuned ...

At the beginning of this year, we would like to share with you a great and happy news: the management of DMA architects welcomes three new partners: Geneviève Riopel, Bastien Gagné and Sébastien Dubois.

Alongside Jozef Zorko, François Lemoine, Philippe Ashby and Colin J. Hanley, they will each contribute in their own way to the writing of a new chapter in the history of DMA.

They have already been dedicated to DMA for more than ten years, and becoming partners is the logical continuation of their commitment and passion for our office, our team and its achievements.

Geneviève Riopel – Architect
Bastien Gagné – Senior Technologist
Sébastien Dubois – BIM Director

To learn more about them, please consult their biographies on the Team page of our website.

Our daring knowledge rewarded.
"The jury would like to point out that the winning team has distinguished itself by the high quality and the excellent development potential of the project for subsequent phases''.

The jury celebrates the creativity of our team: in situ + DMA in collaboration with civiliti, EXP and LEM Experts-Conseils, by declaring us the winner of this competition.

Being among the 4 finalists out of 19 proposals received, it was with great excitement that we presented our concept in detail to the jury on Monday, May 17. It is based on 4 key principles.

1-Turn your gaze towards the Ottawa River
2-Open up to the vitality of the city
3-Dialoguing with Old Aylmer
4-Placing light at the heart of the concept, proposing a route to a lookout point on the Ottawa River.

Congratulations to all the participants. We know how much a competition requires an extraordinary strength of proposal but especially an enormous capacity of work on behalf of the whole team and this, until the very end.

The complete project will be online soon. Please follow us.

The new PLACE DES PIONNIERS is an architectural, landscaping and urban design project regrouping a library (current Lucy-Faris library which will be demolished) and municipal services. The conceptual approach developed by our team composed of: in situ + DMA architects - civiliti - EXP - LEM experts-conseils won over the jury among the 19 proposals received.

"I congratulate the finalists of the competition. This building will certainly become a landmark and a source of pride for Gatineau. "Isabelle N. Miron, Councillor and Chair of the Commission des arts, de la culture, des lettres et du patrimoine.

The program takes place in the heart of Vieux-Aylmer. This core is a major cultural, administrative and commercial urban destination. The project is therefore a signature building (LEED V4 Silver target) contributing to the attractiveness and dynamism of the area and to the sense of belonging of the people of Gatineau.

We are very proud to be among the finalists for the Competition dedicated to the expansion of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde. in situ + DMA has until April 29th to submit a proposal. The next step will be a jury presentation. To be continued.