We are extremely proud to announce that gbi was recognized at the 2023 Grands Prix du génie-conseil québécois Gala. The permanent column geothermal well project at Clé-des-Champs School received top honors in the Energy category.
Organized by the Association des firmes de génie-conseil du Québec, this competition highlights the expertise, know-how, and best practices in the engineering industry.
The permanent column geothermal well (PCP) system was implemented at Clé-des-Champs Elementary School, part of the Centre de services scolaires des Mille-Îles (CSSMI). The innovation in this project lies in the integration of a newly adopted technology in Quebec, currently under academic research.
This system, which requires far fewer wells than traditional geothermal systems, offers improved thermal comfort and reduces the building’s energy consumption. Furthermore, data collected over the past winter shows that this geothermal system supports the goal of building decarbonization, while helping manage energy demand on the Hydro-Québec grid—an engineering challenge gbi has been exploring for several years.
Our firm was also a finalist in three other categories: the energy loop at Espace Montmorency, for our client Groupe Montoni in the Building – Mechanical & Electrical category; the raw water intakes in Lake Memphrémagog for the clients Canton de Potton and Owl’s Head ski resort, in Urban Infrastructure; and finally, the design of the Institut du véhicule innovant for the Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, in the Building – Structural category.
We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to our teams and our clients who entrusted gbi with the realization of their projects. Your collaboration and vision were essential in helping us win this prestigious award.
This recognition reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence in our field and inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of engineering.
Energy Loop at Espace Montmorency
For the Espace Montmorency project, gbi’s teams carried out the engineering for a new construction consisting of four multi-use towers and conducted a feasibility study on the implementation of an energy loop. The modeling highlighted the benefits of the loop, allowing energy to be recovered and shared between the buildings.
Raw Water Intakes in Lake Memphrémagog
This project involved replacing the raw water intakes for the municipality of Canton de Potton and Owl’s Head ski resort. The ski resort now has access to very cold water to optimize snow production. The new intake was anchored more than 18 meters deep at the bottom of Lake Memphrémagog.
Institut du véhicule innovant
Our mandate was to design a high-tech building with a fully exposed wood structure, accommodating researchers and faculty, and including a specialized lab for testing heavy vehicles. This industrial and educational facility is a benchmark in sustainable development.
