Montreal architects Atelier Big City and Cimaise have won a competition to design the new  ?Lieu de diffusion spécialisé danse, théâtre pour l’enfance et la jeunesse de Sherbrooke? in Quebec. The new children?s theatre will be located in the historic centre of Sherbrooke, a major city of 140,000 people located approximately 160 kilometres to the east of Montreal.
The Atelier Big City and Cimaise design carves out a new public space to animate Wellington’s Streets commercial stretch, while respecting the architectural integrity of the existing building, which was designed by Saucier + Perrotte Architectes.
The 1,700 sq-meter theatre will be a key part of the revitalization of Wellington Street, Sherbrooke’s main shopping and commercial artery. The new theatre is seen as a welcoming pavilion, which aims to be both aesthetically distinct and in dialogue with the existing CAsJB Building, which was designed by Montreal’s Saucier + Perrotte Architectes. In Atelier Big City and Cimaise’s winning design, the physical connection between the two pavilions is kept to a minimum so as to respect both as separate identities and in order to minimize the impact of construction on the CAsJB. Both buildings will also have separate addresses and animate a new public space adjacent to Wellington Street. This exterior plaza will extend the foyer of the Children’s Theatre outwards, providing a new space for outdoor performances, children’s play and ...