Case Study – Voltigeurs de Quebec Armoury
History
The Manège Militaire des Voltigeurs de Québec [Voltigeurs de Quebec Armoury] was built between 1885 and 1888. The architecture is of French style, designed to resemble the castles of the 14th and 15th centuries. The main purpose of the Quebec City Armoury was to house the Voltigeurs de Quebec regiment. This regiment is the oldest French-Canadian military force, on regular or reserve service, in the country. The building also served as a location to hold concerts, exhibits, shows, and fairs. Unfortunately, the building was destroyed by a fire in April 2008. Only the façade of this heritage building still stood. The rest was a total loss.
Having remained inactive for more than 10 years, the Manège Militaire de Québec was finally ready for a complete restoration. The new building represents an impressive balance between modernity and the preservation of historical heritage.
One of the main challenges encountered during the reconstruction of the building was the restoration of the masonry, stones, and bricks. These were all individually numbered in order to be returned to their initial position. Replacement stones were even taken from the same quarry that was used at the time of the original construction. In 1986, this historic location was recognized for its architectural importance by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Solution
The project required new flooring that was both versatile and easy to clean. The planners also quickly realized their great need for multi-use flooring that could withstand high traffic by very many visitors. Our mandate consisted of supplying and installing the “modern” part of the project using the Omnisports sports flooring. Two colours were custom-made for the multifunctional hall, the centerpiece of the building, measuring by itself 30,000 square feet.
We also installed the same surfacing material on the floor of the walkway overhanging the Grand Hall. The most complex challenge that we had to face was the logistics and management of the 630 hidden channels that were covered, one by one, with Omnisports. These channels are a key element as they will be used to conceal a large quantity of wiring during events.
The new building, valued at just over one hundred million dollars, includes the new hall, which is able to accommodate up to 1,300 people for receptions and shows.
