The City of Baie-D’Urfé undertook a complete restoration of its historic town hall with financial assistance from the Municipal Infrastructure Improvement and Construction Program. Located in the Greater Montreal Area, the administrative building still bears the signature of architect Edward Maxwell, a local resident and prominent figure in Quebec architecture.
As a former Second Empire-style farmhouse built in 1875, and transformed into a town hall in 1914, the objective was to preserve both its heritage and longevity using sustainable wood.
Championing carbon sequestration
The restoration includes a new contemporary section, entirely supported by a wood structure (walls, floors, roof). This lightweight frame, composed of small-dimension timbers (including classic two-by-fours), is reinforced with engineered wood elements, offering an ideal combination of performance, durability, and architectural warmth.
A local, renewable material and a champion of carbon sequestration, wood is emerging as an essential ally for sustainable development in Quebec and for efforts to combat climate change.
The reception area
To encourage its use, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) offers enhanced financial assistance under the Municipal Infrastructure Improvement and Construction Program when a municipality chooses a main structure made of wood. This increase stems from the implementation of the Wood Construction Integration Policy, managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests.
This is how Baie-D’Urfé received $4,485,000 in 2022 for the expansion of its city hall, including an eight per cent bonus obtained through the ingenious integration of a wooden structure.
When construction work reveals the past
During a 19-day project excavation, a team of archaeologists unearthed 1,630 artifacts, ranging from fragments of hewn stone to the remains of a mid-18th-century house, previously unrecorded in any source. In collaboration with Patrimonia – Archaeology Services, the City then showcased these unique pieces. Fifteen carefully selected objects are currently on public display.
