A new amphitheater is currently being constructed as part of an ambitious regeneration project on Quebec’s Trois-Rivieres waterfront, a former industrial site in the east part of the city. The project is the brainchild of Montreal-based architectural studio Atelier Paul Laurendeau and boasts a distinctive red roof that covers the entirety of the complex. The Amphithe?a?tre Cogeco is located on the site of a former paper mill, which ceased operations in the early 2000s. The new developments on the waterfront will also be surrounded by new landscaping and house a number of cultural and recreational facilities. Atelier Paul Laurendeau?s design was the winning entry in an architectural competition held back in 2010, and the project takes its name from Canadian telecommunications company Cogeco.
The original competition brief asked for a statement building that would call attention to the development and be a “landmark design of an international scope, comparable to the Sydney Opera House fronting the water.” Due to budgetary constraints, the decision was made by the design team, which consisted of both Atelier Paul Laurendeau and Beauchesne Architecture, to focus on making the roof the project’s defining feature. This bold move has resulted in a building that has a very distinct color and silhouette, making it easily identifiable in a low-lying landscape.

Atelier Paul Laurendeau has created an open-air amphitheater with a bright red roof floating abo...