This document provides details about the Tripode amphitheater project in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, which was a finalist in a 2011 architecture competition. The proposed amphitheater would seat up to 10,000 people and include a grass lawn area and stage house. Key elements of the design included referencing the site's industrial history through the shape of the structure and using various materials. The project aimed to revitalize the riverfront and create a new public space that connects surrounding cultural attractions.

1. tripode
TripodE
Trois-Rivières Amphitheater on St.Lawrence, Finalist

2. GEnEral informaTion
Contact Us An Overview
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN pRoJECT NAME
Sid Lee Architecture et Régis Côté et associés
Tripode, Amphithéâtre de Trois-Rivières
ADDRESSE
75, rue Queen, bureau 1500, STATUTS
Montréal (Québec) Competition finalist, 2011
H3C 2N6 Canada
Phone LoCATIoN
514-282-2200 Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
Website
www.sidleearchitecture.com CLIENT
www.regiscote.com City of Trois-Rivières
CoNTACTS
Architect and Principal partner TypE
Jean Pelland Cultural and institutional
Phone
514-282-6834 ext 554
E-mail
SIzE
jpelland@sidleearchitecture.com Total area: 13,671 m2
Total capacity: 10,000
pUbLIC RELATIoNS
Marie-Eve Chaumont
Phone
CoNSTRUCTIoN bUDGET
514-282-2200 ext 482
$34 million
E-mail
mechaumont@sidlee.com
Trois-rivières AmphiTheATre
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3. St. Lawrence
River
Revitalization of
the former paper mill site
Saint-Maurice
Contextualization
River
The purpose of this architecture contest is to in question (a former paper mill) is situated along
“equip the city of Trois-Rivières with an open- the St. Lawrence River, adjacent to the
air amphitheatre capable of seating 10,000.” harbourfront park, the city centre, the St.
Trois-Rivières is a small Canadian city Lawrence River and St. Quentin Island (for
(population 130,407) once known as the pulp and outdoor activities). Such a location calls for an
paper industry capital of the world. extraordinary construction,” explains Philippe
Located halfway between Montreal and Quebec Drolet, architect, in an excerpt from the contest
City, Trois-Rivières was looking to build its own catalogue.
venue for hosting high-volume summer festivals For the first phase of the contest, Sid Lee
and internationally renowned bands, and hou- Architecture and Régis Côté et Associés
sing its symphony orchestra during the summer. banked on the project’s historical roots and awed
“In the early 2000s, the city of Trois-Rivières the jury with a vision that reflects the site’s
began work on a requalification project. The site industrial past.

4. N public space
ew
before entering
the Ampitheatre

5. Materialize Tripod was an imaginary foray into the industrial
history of both the site and the city, for we
believed that approaching this new amphitheatre
contemporary formalism.
From a formal viewpoint, the multiple ways the
horizon was framed afforded the site new
The history of the site without regard for its past would inhibit public
response to it.
prominence and thus infused it with new life.
The addition of a third support anchor, which
Tripod’s design strategy was to delve into the also served as a lookout post, added a final touch
Description of the projet site’s history and give material life to an by providing an expansive view of the horizon.
exploration of the link between past and present On a smaller scale, the polymorphic landscape
through the symbolic moulding of the stacks of with its profusion of architectural events offered
paper mill–bound logs that used to rise along the passers-by and users an engaging panorama.
Saint-Maurice River like great pyramids fed by The grand metal-clad wood canopy harked back
conveyors. Through this reading of residual to the steel-hulled ships that plied the waters
images of the city Trois-Rivières (Canada), we while offering a striking contrast to the
sought to retell a story that went beyond the completely flattened landscape. The project’s
visible landscape and tied the project to vestiges uniqueness resides in its counterposed mix of
of its past. The amphitheatre was an entity meant scales and materials.
to re-inhabit the site, with contours symbolizing
the location and a profile embodying a resolutely

6. GEnius Loci _ HistoricaL imaGEs concEptuaL stratEGiEs skEtcHEs
01 Site HiStory
Formal reference by casting the wood pilings and the conveyors that occupied the site in the industrial era.
Wood convEyEr Source: anonymous (web)
02 Strategy / dialog / frame
Creation of an interrelation to the principal axes and of a new dialogue between the amphitheater and the buildings on the site like
the Hangar (reactivity) and the Borealis Museum.
Creation and multiplication of the environmental frame by raising the canopy and the creation of three-point base..
piLE of LumbEr Source: anonymous (web) canadian intErnatioanL papEr, 1930
Source: McCord Museum
03 texture of tHe marine landScape
Reminder of the marine world and the spirit of the site as an undulating landscape and the textures and materials of ships
(wood canopy and metal packaging).
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7. 01 invEntory
Onsite design
forcEs in prEsEncE
borEaLis musEum Studies by the acoustician’s team were used to These design details preserved intimacy inside the
Existing determine orientation and layout. Minimizing amphitheatre while making entry points easy to
naturaL sHorEs acoustic constraints caused by the project’s identify and accessible, in order to create
Preserved
positioning and the direction of the sound from movement to and through the site.
topoGrapHy the amphitheatre was a prime concern. To enhance
Natural, conserved The broader design strategy was premised on an
the sense of closure we added an access gallery economy of interventions creating a spatial
topoGrapHy along the southern (urban) flank that makes the dialogue between the sites components: the
Natural, used to create access to the
amphitheater amphitheatre’s presence and the prefunction role amphitheatre, the Hangar (to be reactivated), and
of the new public square more obvious. the Borealis Museum. It presented a new dynamic
dock Animating the venue also called for a special focus of riverside openness and conversion of all existing
Existing, exploited into public place on pedestrian access, both through landscape buildings to places of public gathering. We
HanGar
Existing, reconverted into arts design and entranceway functionality. Three extended the life cycle of this public ensemble
centre and public market
public entry points punctuated the approach area created by these three buildings by tying
to the amphitheatre’s performance zone. Artist everything with the riverside promenade to create
and spectator intimacy is enhanced by a rolling a new urban sightline.
landscape, designed to follow the natural curve of
the terrain.
02 Work on tHE fiELd's 03 framE and circuLation in
morpHoLoGy framE: HaLL and sErvicEs at tHE ampHitHEatEr proximity of tHE ampHitHEatEr
Accessible directly from the public place
HiLLock Stage House
Controlled access to the amphitheater
by a lanscaping intervention
staGE HousE drEssinG
tripod nEW oriEntation Wood planel walls
Conform to the PFT requirements
pLayGround
sEatinG
Protected from dominant winds by 3500 spEctators
lanscaping interventions
HiLLock rivEr sHuttLE
Controlled access to the amphitheater Towards Trois-Rivières' city center.
by a landscaping intervention
proposEd Grass LaWn
6500 spectators GEnEraL pubLic accEss
To the bleechers and
grass lawn. Secured for crowd control
Lawn proposed to the f.t.p.
construction of a vEGEtatEd accEss basiLar
Controlled access to the amphitheater
framE : sHops and rEstaurants
Out of project
Main access hall / v.i.p. access
to seating
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8. N The broader design strategy was premised on an economy of interventions
creating a spatial dialogue between the sites components: the amphitheatre,
saint-mauricE rivEr the Hangar (to be reactivated), and the Borealis Museum. It presented a new
dynamic of riverside openness and conversion of all existing buildings to
places of public gathering. We extended the life cycle of this public ensemble
protEctEd
naturaL created by these three buildings by tying everything with the riverside
HiLLs
promenade to create a new urban sightline.
borEaLis musEum
community
GardEns sErvicEs buiLdinG
Trois-Rivieres city -
sport equipment rental EarLy cHiLdHood dock:
and site maintenance cEntrE pLayGround rivEr sHuttLE
protEctEd naturaL
HiLLs
rEst arEa
saint-LaurEncE rivEr
"contrE-EspLanadE":
Playground and winter
slopes)
rivEr patHWay
patH dEvELoppEd for opEn air activitiEs and rEstinG
LinEd WitH dynamic vEGEtatEd incidEnts tHat EncouraGE
discovEry
traiL LEadinG to artist EntrancE
sErvicEs parkinGaccès
controLLEd accEss for
artists and EmpLoyEEs tour bus LandinG zonE
dug space hidden from
onlookers obsErvatory
pLayGround Grass LaWn
(city of Trois-Rivières) (6500 spectators)
HaLL and vEGEtatEd
accEss basiLar
-PARk FOR CHiLdREN iN GERMANy
-LiNEAR PARk (HiGHLiNE iN NEW yORk)
tripodE
HotEL
offEr rEstinG dock
smaLL staGE pubLic pLacE
Outside of the main stage GatHErinG spot
show hours
sHops and rEstaurants
WitH GrEEn roof
(but ExcLudEd from
tHE proposEd projEct)
commErciaL and rEsidEntiaL
buiLdinGs
(Trois-Rivières urban development) commErciaL
patHWay
-TROiS-RivièRES BuSkER FESTivAL
-MuvBOx (MOBiLE FOOd CONCESSiON)
LandinG zonE -uSEd BOOk STORE
(bus, car and
universal access)
pEdEstrian WaLkWay commErciaL
main accEss to tHE sitE parkinG HanGar rEconvErsion
ExampLE of industriaL buiLdinG rEconvErsion usinG
mEEtinG point containErs as artists WorksHops
-MSdM MEdiAWARF iN AMSTERdAM
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9. The amphitheatre’s hall way opening to the public square is covered with a
Commercial Promenade
green roof, and its façade was made permeable to emphasize the connection
of the exterior. We also create a large fresco to bring art to the site.
This imposing shape of the amphitheatre was also intended to make the
facility a focal point for the rehabilitation of the city’s riverbanks and offer a
way to experience and view the immensity of the St. Lawrence and Saint-
Maurice Rivers from different perspectives and scales.

10. At a glance
CApACITy
Seating 3,500 places (2,200 m2)
Grass lawn 6,500 places (5,205 m2)
Stage also used for receptions and banquets with space for 250 in winter
Administrative offices: About 15
building STAGE AND SEATING AREA
Stagehouse dimensions: 13 m deep x 41 m wide
components Stage front height:
Stagehouse height (above the stage):
1.5 m
25 m
Understage height: 3.1 m and 5 m
Project specifications
Proscenium: 18 m wide x 8.5 m high
Technical grid: 691 m2
Main entrance: 205 m2
ENvERGURE CANopéE
Canopy roof size: 3,525 m2
Canopy portico dimensions behind the stands: 80 m wide x 16 m high
Clearance under canopy structure: 11.5 m
Number of risers to lookout on roof: 85
Rooftop lookout dimensions: 25 m2
SUpERFICIES
Total area (net) 13,671 m2
Public spaces 498 m2
Public stage areas (stands and parterre) 8,991 m2
Stage area 2,483 m2
Stage support area 1,075 m2
Administrative area 412 m2
Services area 212 m2

11. Lobby Entrance
Like the hull with
its metal exterior
and its wood and
steel interior, the
stagehouse combined
the power of gestural
expression with a
lightness of material
expression.
A system of 1.2 m x 2.4 m aluminum panels would clad the
outer wall of the stagehouse, perforated above the offices
at the front and gradually opacified toward the back of the
structure.

12. Composition of the skin’s
structural elements
The project’s structural premises were simple: use a by a horizontal steel beam, thus forming the fifth 05 wHite elaStomer memBrane
wood canopy structure for historical reasons and for portico and completing the compression ring. The final High reflectivity to counter the
effect of isolated patches of heat
greater durability, and match it to the strength of steel assembly was trussed with a two-way wooden structure
on account of the architectural concept calling for long- (caisson). This structure was made out of prefabricated
span structures. wood laminated beams about 3 m deep and assembled
The strategy was to have a self-supporting structure into 4 m x 4 m modules. The roof is covered with
oBServatory
made up of four rigid porticos in triangulated steel prefabricated wood decking tiles about 75 mm thick.
buttressed by two load-bearing partitions, the
stagehouse side walls. These two walls were then joined
02 envelope 04 prefaBricated wood SlaB Bridging
covering system made from opaque and 4m x 4m x 75mm thick modules that form
perforated aluminium panels that are placed the system's diaphragm
directly on steel frames (following the slope of
the structure)
03 Bi-directional Structure made
01 Steel frameS and porticoS of engeneering wood (trelliS)
(Stage HouSe) wood roof structure made of laminated-stuck pillars
flexural wallS and
(depth of about 3m) from local wood essence; the
prefaBricated concrete panelS
foot black spruce
Beam
portico 4
foot foot
Beam Beam module 1
foot Beam portico 3
portico 1
foot module 2
portico 2
03.1 Wood structurE assEmbLy
01.1 stEEL framE assEmbLy prefabricated modules assembled on site. economy ($)
Steel frames with triangulated spatial frame Support: on assembly time. local material, durable, Quebecois expertise.
structure, prefabricated and assembled concrete pillarS
on site. economy ($) on assembly time. caSt on poStS
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13. Winter Activities
along the quay

14. pLan_LEv.1_Ground fLoor pLan_LEv.basEmEnt pLan_LEv.2
SCALE 1:500 OFFiCES
HALL ANd STAGE
SCALE 1:300
SCALE 1:300
pLan_LEv.3 pLan_LEv.4
FOOTBRidGE TECHNiCAL GRid / ROOF
SCALE 1:500 SCALE 1:500
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15. accEss HaLL staGE HousE obsErvatory GraminacEous GardEn
accEss to sEatinG
EL.: 38 032
ROOFiNG
HiGH POiNT
EL.: 30 146
STRuCTuRE HiGH POiNT
EL.: 26 260
EL.: 16 400
vEGETATEd SuBSTRuCTuRE
ACCESS BASiLAR
EL.: 14 500
vEGETATEd ROOFiNG
(SHOPS)
EL.: 12 184
COMMERCiAL EL.: 10 500
PLACE
SHOPS
South Elevation _ Hall and main access
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16. accEss to tHE obsErvatory staGE HousE
EL.: 38 032
ROOFiNG HiGH POiNT
EL.: 31 379
EL.: 30 146
OBSERvATORy
STRuCTuRE HiGH POiNT
EL.: 26 260
LOW POiNT
EL.: 14 334
GRASS
LAWN
East Elevation _ Ground / Esplanade
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17. Grass pubLic sErvicE rEntaL spacE staGE HousE
LaWn accEss
EL.: 38 032
ROOFiNG HiGH POiNT
EL.: 30 146 EL.: 26 260
STRuCTuRE HiGH POiNT SOuS-STRuCTuRE
north Elevation _ rental space stage left
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18. Material expression and
environmental integration
The outside wall at the back of the dressing throughout while using only a single material.
rooms and office area is a double glazed skin The visible portions of the stagehouse and
covered with the a semi-transparent wall system proscenium cladding match the wooden
of perforated panels. This allowes light to filter in structure of the canopy. These surface areas are
while protecting privacy. These perforated panels covered with a system of panels made of marine
also make it possible to vary façade textures plywood frequently used in naval construction.
accEss to sEatinG pErforatEd mEtaL WaLL infront of
officEs and drEssinG rooms
EL.: 38032
HiGH POiNT
EL.: 13 000
ACCESS TO
AMPHiTHEATER / STAGE
West Elevation _ Backstage
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19. 5m x 5m obsErvatory opEninG in
tHE roof
tHE roofinG dEtaiL at tHE parapEt
variEs to crEatE a baLustradE WHErE
tHE obsErvatory is situatEd
stEEL structurE covErEd by
an opaquE and pErforatEd
aLLuminium sidinG
staircasE sidinG madE of
stainLEss stEEL cabLE mEsH
Last fLiGHts of stairs
insidE a moduLE of tHE
WoodEn structurE
stEEL framE staircasE
fixEd to tHE stEEL framEs
and Wood piLLars
detail of staircase leading to observatory
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20. stEEL structurE bidirEctionaL WoodEn obsErvatory tEcHnicaL aLLuminum panEL
(spactiaL skELEton) structurE accEss staircasE cLEarinG sidinG systEm
longitudinal view
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21. staGE HousE canopy and sound dEfLEctors structuraL framE
pubLic sErvicEs
zonE
perspective view
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22. Ambiance
Beneath the Canopy

23. Another SidlEE arCHiTECTUrE fanzine