Guy-Sanche Library Competition: When collaboration moves architecture forward
July 15, 2026
Architectural competitions hold a unique place in our profession. While they ultimately select a winning proposal, they are, above all, opportunities to challenge ideas, explore new directions and advance architectural thinking.
It is in this spirit that we close the chapter on the Guy-Sanche Library competition.
Following our successful collaboration with COBE on the Espace Riopelle competition for the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, being invited to join their team for the final phase of this new competition was a true privilege. It reflected the trust that had developed between our teams and our shared ambition to create architecture that is thoughtful, ambitious and deeply rooted in its context.
Although we joined the process during its final stage, we quickly became fully integrated into this collaborative effort. Architects, engineers and specialists combined their expertise to help shape a proposal driven by open dialogue, continuous refinement of ideas and a shared commitment to architectural excellence.
Naturally, the outcome was not the one we had hoped for. Nevertheless, it does not diminish the pride we feel in the work accomplished by the entire team.
We extend our sincere congratulations to the winning team, Pelletier de Fontenay, as well as to Anik Mandalian and Hubert de Fontenay. Winning a competition of this calibre is a remarkable achievement.
We would also like to recognize the outstanding work of Jérôme Lapierre, the competition professional advisor, whose rigour and professionalism contributed greatly to the exemplary quality of the process. Finally, we thank our partners COBE, CCxA, Artelia Canada, Elema and Ambioner. A competition of this scale is, above all, a collective endeavour where every discipline strengthens the project.
Beyond the outcome, this experience highlights the value of collaborations that bring together teams from diverse backgrounds around a shared vision. It also reminds us that competitions remain essential spaces for experimentation, where ideas are challenged, refined and transformed into new perspectives for architectural practice.
This is precisely why we continue to take part in architectural competitions. Each one is an opportunity to learn, push our thinking further and enrich the projects we will design tomorrow.