Maisonneuve Library, Canada

The Maisonneuve Library is a decorative style heritage building rooted in a working-class neighbourhood. Initially built to be a political space, it evolved from a scientific venue into a cultural hub. In 2024, the library was expanded to mirror its services offering with the addition of two modernist glass prisms connecting the exterior scenery to the built interior.  Unfortunately, its rich heritage was not brought to light, waiting patiently for the day it would inspire and connect future generations. It was time to make a change.

Central to the lighting design conversation between the architects and us was the importance to enhance the heritage centrepiece and find a lighting concept that united see-through wings into a harmonious living whole. The intent was to showcase intricate details in a soft and composed language. A special care was taken to prolong lines of lighting from the modernist wings into the main façade, as a sign of cohesion. The now interior side facades of the historic building were also lit to encourage gazing towards the background.

Prototyping and on-site testing were done to select fixtures placement, beam angles, intensity and the ideal color temperature. Lighting enhanced cast shadows using an uplight grazing strategy that detached foreground from background elements. The lighting design served to articulate volumetry by creating balance, rhythm, depth and texture. A mix of narrow 10-degree and 30-degree fixtures carefully placed below each column and pilaster was integral to the lighting approach. A warm 2 700K color temperature was selected to enrich natural stone colors and harmonize with warm brick buildings of the area.

Heritage architecture implies seamless lighting integration, not to say invisible, to safekeep façade integrity. Custom-made cache details were designed to ensure fixture concealment.  Thorough wiring and control equipment coordination was done with construction and engineering project partners.  A dialogue took place with architects and engineers to ensure the glass wings interior lighting intensity did not upstage any part of the building. The objective was to unify lighting designs while making the heritage part a focal point at night.

Lighting pollution was also carefully studied to provide a sustainable solution (glare, intensity and spill). Fixtures are controlled following three stages: from dawn to the library closing hours, from the closing to eleven p.m., and after eleven p.m.  An astronomical clock controls the lighting composition to either signal to bystanders that the library stands open, inviting all to step in and fill themselves with culture. When the doors close, its spirit is still lively, the interior staying visible from outside. Finally, at night, the façade slowly fades to black — allowing the building to rest, ready to welcome a new day.