OPTIMA
AERO
Commercial
Belœil, Quebec, Canada
Completed in 2020
Belœil, Quebec, Canada
Completed in 2020
Contractor: Construction Muuk
Photography: Phil Bernard
Photography: Phil Bernard
Awards and distinctions :
• Dwell Magazine
• GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN 16th edition (2023) :
- Special Award / Architecture + Aluminium : Platinum Winner
- Special Award / Architecture + Stairs : Gold Certification
- Commercial Building / Factory & Warehouse : Silver Certification
• Dwell Magazine
• GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN 16th edition (2023) :
- Special Award / Architecture + Aluminium : Platinum Winner
- Special Award / Architecture + Stairs : Gold Certification
- Commercial Building / Factory & Warehouse : Silver Certification
Optima Aero was ready for change. With a thriving business specialized in the reuse and refurbishment of helicopter parts, the company owners soon recognized the need for a new head office. They dreamt of a highly functional space with offices and warehouses, but also of a signature building with bold architecture where they could welcome their clients from all over the world.
Inspiration came from a quick sketch, with lines evoking a compass rose or a turbine, or even a propeller's rotation. Movement was initiated, and thus the project concept was born! Simple lines and dynamic angles, all centered around a massive spiraling staircase reminiscent of aerospace design.
Panels of white aluminium, light and bright, cover the exterior of the head office. Located at the northern end, the office section stands out, complemented by the adjacent wing, more quiet with black brick and steel exterior. The contrast is striking, with each section of the building supporting the presence and the effect of the other.
Right from the entrance, the immense staircase leads to a rooftop with greenhouses and terraces. In the lush garden, heirloom tomatoes, Montreal melons, hot peppers and other delicacies are being cultivated.
The vast entrance hall, fully windowed, serves as a reception area as much as a passageway. From there, you can reach utility areas, an outdoor terrace or the workshops, where precision work is performed under bright lights and where entire helicopters and thousands of engine parts are stored.
Designed around one open area, the upper floor is dedicated to office work. A mezzanine, sitting above the entrance hall, also serves as a lounge and kitchen.
Optima Aero is a place of exception, between earth and sky, where inspiration fuels innovation.
