Royalmount – Phase 1
Royalmount – Phase 1
Commercial
Gala de l'ACI – Section du Québec et de l'Est de l'Ontario
2025
FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference
2025
National Awards
2025
2025
The Royalmount – Phase 1 project embodies an exemplary vision of sustainable development, aiming to deliver the first phase of the largest private mixed-use development to achieve operational Scope 1 carbon neutrality in North America.
From the outset, the client’s ambitions were clear: to achieve multiple certifications while addressing complex energy challenges, particularly those related to peak demand management and energy supply. Faced with these issues, the gbi team developed a multidisciplinary master plan that not only met the client’s needs, but also rethought traditional design practices for shopping centers.
The approach relied on a major innovation: a dual energy-transfer loop powered primarily by geothermal energy. This unique double-loop design ensures greater flexibility for the project’s future evolution and optimized energy efficiency, thanks to its energy recovery capability that maximizes resource circularity.
Client Support
The concept of a double energy transfer loop powered by geothermal energy represented an innovative yet complex solution, departing from the client’s usual project approaches. Its adoption required a significant initial investment, with long-term benefits that could sometimes be difficult to explain to investors, future tenants, and the client. To overcome this challenge, gbi undertook extensive outreach efforts to clearly demonstrate the project’s added value. Detailed analyses were conducted to quantify potential savings and long-term profitability, which helped bring stakeholders on board.
Significant Technical Challenges
Adding geothermal energy after the foundations had been laid posed considerable technical challenges. The geothermal wells had to be integrated into an already dense site where the column footings were already in place. This constraint required additional analyses and rigorous design adjustments to position the wells without compromising existing structures.
Despite these obstacles, a field of 150 geothermal wells was successfully installed, making it currently the largest geothermal well field in a dense site in Québec.
Environmental Benefits
Thanks to the integration of a double energy transfer loop, geothermal energy, and hydroelectricity, the project achieves a 93% reduction in GHG emissions compared to a traditional shopping center.
This translates into an annual reduction of approximately 9,500 tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to the yearly emissions of 1,130 residents.
Sustainability Strategies
Many sustainable development strategies were integrated into the project beyond energy efficiency. These included sustainable mobility, water management, the selection of durable materials, and waste management—considerations that guided the project from start to finish. Royalmount serves as a catalyst for more sustainable infrastructure.
With its 1.5 million square feet, the project is the largest LEED® v4 C+CB certified building in Canada.
The client is also targeting the certifications WELL™ level Silver and Parksmart level gold for this project.
An Ambitious Structure
The Royalmount project stands out with its hybrid concrete-steel structure, designed to meet the building’s architectural and functional requirements.
Large spans of 10 meters with 4.5-meter cantilevers run along the corridors on both floors. The tall framework allows for ceilings reaching 5.4 meters, creating a remarkable interior volume. The whole is topped by spectacular skylights spanning 60 meters across the entire length of the roof, maximizing natural light and the elegance of the space.
This exceptional structure was awarded an Excellence Award at the 2025 ACI Gala – Quebec and Eastern Ontario Section, in the mid-rise category.
With this world-class project, my greatest pride is that, as a team, we achieved all the objectives set, while showcasing the expertise of Québec engineering.
Serge Beaudoin, Eng.
Project Engineering Director and President of gbi
