Place Bell
Place Bell
2017
Cultural
Sports
Canada BIM Council
2015


As part of the Place Bell project, gbi supported the client at every stage, from planning through commissioning, ensuring the seamless integration of infrastructure and the coordination of numerous stakeholders.
gbi’s teams were involved in:
- Topographic surveys of existing infrastructure
- Preliminary studies and feasibility analysis
- Concept development and preliminary design
- Final plans and specifications
- Construction supervision
- Support for infrastructure integration
The project required the design of sanitary, watermain, and public utility retention systems, as well as the integration of the complex on a site with challenging topography, all carried out in close collaboration with the engineering and permitting departments of the City of Laval.
A Major Sports and Cultural Hub
Delivered in less than 28 months under a fixed-price design-build model, this 68,600 m² facility stands as a benchmark project in Québec.
Recipient of the 2015 CanBIM Innovation Award from the Canada BIM Council, Place Bell is now a major sports and cultural destination.
The complex includes:
- An intelligent multi-purpose arena with over 10,000 seats, convertible into a concert, convention, or exhibition venue
- Two ice rinks, including one Olympic-size rink and a second rink with 2,500 seats dedicated to skating
- A two-level basement
- Three parking levels, providing a total of 2,500 parking spaces
months under a fixed-price design-build model
square meters of area
seats, convertible into a concert, convention, or exhibition venue
Technical performance
From an electromechanical standpoint, the building is equipped with a main electrical room with a 6,000 A capacity, a central thermal plant, an energy metering system tailored to building occupants and load types, and a centralized lighting control system, supporting efficient and flexible building operations.
Technical Challenge Successfully Overcome
Designing and constructing a facility of this scale within such a compressed schedule represented a significant technical and logistical challenge. Through rigorous planning and close multidisciplinary coordination, the project was delivered on time while meeting all functional, technical, and operational requirements.
Highly Collaborative, Community-Focused Project
À l’image de la Place Bell, conçue comme un lieu de rassemblement pour la communauté, gbi a joué un rôle central dans l’arrimage des échéanciers et la collaboration entre les architectes, ingénieurs, entrepreneurs, arpenteurs et les équipes municipales de la Ville de Laval. Cette approche concertée a permis de livrer un projet complexe dans un contexte de délais serrés.