Members of the university community now have access to a completely new type of collaborative space: the Cabane – Boisé Roberge. Located under the trees, discreetly installed inside the small wooded area adjoining the Félix-Antoine-Savard pavilion, this “cabin” with the air of a tiny house of yesteryear has been usable by the staff and students of the University since on Thursday October 3.
“We are fortunate to have an extraordinary campus with great development potential,” explains Marie-France Lemieux, real estate planning advisor at the Buildings Department.
In the fall of 2023, she proposed the idea of this new kind of collaborative space, even daring, as part of the call for projects for the transformative A vibrant campus project. This project is under the responsibility of the Vice-Rectorate for Infrastructure and Transformation. The advisor also contributed to the completion of the project.
“The projects for this project must, among other things, be based on the pleasure of meeting on campus through new places of exchange that encourage collaboration,” she continues. Our concept allows both staff members and the student community to truly work as a team outside to enjoy the benefits of fresh air, sunshine, greenery and nature. The place invites users to live a sensory and biophilic experience, a connection with nature, which is very pleasant with the natural light, the wind in the trees, the sound of the rain falling on the roof.
Six months of work
The design and implementation of the project required more than six months of work. The concept was created jointly by the Buildings Department and Machine, an industrial design company from Montreal. She manufactured the cabin in a workshop in the metropolis, then dismantled it and transported it in pieces to Quebec. Final assembly, which took four days, took place in September. Beforehand, the Buildings Department had coordinated various works, such as soil preparation, excavation to extend the electrical supply to the building and the installation of screw piles.
“We wanted the building to be permanent, durable and to withstand winter,” emphasizes Marie-France Lemieux. Another requirement was that the cabin felt like it was really outdoors. It is normal, and it is desired, to feel fluctuations in temperature, air currents, to hear surrounding noises, to be seen and heard by people walking nearby.
Capacity for eight people
The interior of the Cabin – Boisé Roberge has a total area of 16 square meters. This unique room is occupied by a long table that can accommodate eight people. The furnishings include a Wi-Fi antenna for the University’s Internet network, as well as a television on which to project laptop screens. There is also an integrated system, including a camera fixed under the television and a microphone placed on the table, for meetings in hybrid mode. Six electrical outlets are also integrated into the table for connecting computers and electronic devices.
The Buildings Department also installed auxiliary infrared heating on the ceiling as well as a small auxiliary lighting system. “The heating system doesn’t go up to 22 or 23 degrees Celsius,” she says. The interior of the cabin remains a little cool. It’s part of the experience.”
On September 30, Marie-France Lemieux and four of her colleagues from the Buildings Department held a work session in the Cabane – Boisé Roberge. They are, from left to right: Louis Frenette-Nolin (standing), Sébastien Bournival, Marie-France Lemieux, Stéphanie Tardif (at the front) and Kathleen Kelly (with hidden face).
— Laval University, Yan Doublet
The structure of the building is made of galvanized steel. The walls are made of Plexiglas “to give the impression that there is nothing between the occupants and the trees around them”. As for the roof, it is made of bronze polycarbonate. The role of this material is to filter a large part of the solar gain, in order to prevent the place from becoming a greenhouse when it is hot. The fact of having placed the cabin under a plant cover goes in the same direction.
The access ramp and the balcony in front of the building are made of galvanized steel grilles. These grids will prevent the surface from becoming slippery by becoming covered in ice with cold temperatures.
“We developed all kinds of details to be able to generate natural ventilation, from the openings at the bottom of the walls to the ridge of the roof, so that the air circulates naturally,” explains Marie-France Lemieux. Also, so that rainwater flows properly and the interior always remains dry. The entire structure is placed on piles screwed into the ground, which gives the impression of floating above the ground.”
A test
On Thursday, September 26, the advisor tested the cabin with a few colleagues from the Buildings Department. “It happened in the pouring rain, the air was cool,” she says. The experience was really positive. We found it super pleasant. We stayed two hours. We were comfortable. Despite the gray weather, we did not need to turn on the lighting system. Natural light was enough.”
According to her, the university community should be able to enjoy the premises eight months a year, or for three seasons. “This fall,” she specifies, “we plan to go in mid- or late November. In the spring, we plan to open in May, maybe even April.”
People from the university community wishing to reserve a period at the Cabane – Boisé Roberge can do so now by going to the Premises Reservation Module page, by selecting the “Cabin” category in the “Type of request” drop-down menu on the form . Reservations are made Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., for a maximum duration of 90 minutes. The key to the cabin can be found at the reception of the Eugène-Roberge house located nearby.
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