Projects / Dessercom – Head Office
Expansion and transformation of Dessercom’s head office
A new ambulance garage, reimagined spaces, and a timber structure optimized for performance.
An award-winning project designed for performance and team well-being
Winner of a private architectural competition organized by Dessercom, the project for the expansion and major renovation of its head office in Lévis proposes a bold intervention aimed at unifying, clarifying, and elevating the entirety of its operations. The objective was clear: to provide a modern, functional, and sustainable workplace while ensuring the continuity of ambulance services throughout the construction process.
Two functions, two distinct volumes
To clearly distinguish the complex’s two functions, the ambulance garage and the administrative spaces, STGM envisioned the addition of a new black volume capable of accommodating 18 ambulances. Fully detached from the existing building, this volume contrasts with the administrative headquarters, now clad in white metal siding.
This bold intervention, carried out in two phases, made it possible to maintain all operations while revealing a new architectural identity that is more coherent and structured.
An interior heart reimagined for staff
A key programmatic move was also to free up an inner courtyard dedicated to employee well-being. The new black volume partially wraps around the original building, creating a protected and welcoming outdoor space.
The lounge-bistro, set within the former garage, opens directly onto this courtyard and becomes a central gathering place—encouraging interaction and collaboration among the various work groups.
A durable and high-performance structure
The expansion is built on a lightweight timber frame—a choice that is economical, efficient, and deeply rooted in regional resources. The large trusses (28-metre span), oriented southward, optimize energy performance: they provide an ideal surface for solar collectors powering a high-efficiency heat exchanger, thereby reducing the building’s environmental footprint while enhancing its long-term performance.