New construction site at the Université de Sherbrooke
An innovative Hall for the Institut quantique
Sherbrooke, le 12 juin 2020 – The construction of the brand-new Institut quantique (IQ) building is well underway on the main campus of the Université de Sherbrooke. This new pavilion promises to reflect the cutting-edge nature of the research carried out at IQ both by its design as well as its innovative and daring solutions used for its structure, including the use of wood.
This is a particularly good moment to start the construction: “We are helping to revive the economic activity in Sherbrooke and Quebec, says Dr. Pierre Cossette, Rector at Université de Sherbrooke. It also consolidates the Université de Sherbrooke status as a major Canadian pole in quantum sciences. This sector holds an immense potential for spinoffs for the region and is located at the heart of the Innovation Zone project carried by the city, the CEGEP, Sherbrooke Innopole, Productique Québec, the Centre 24-Juin as well as many private and public partners, both national and international.”
Joining Forces
IQ takes another step in its short existence by constructing a building that will house state-of-the-art equipment in numerical calculation laboratories in a quantum Fab Lab. “Our researchers come from several departments and faculties. Rather than being spread out across campus, they can now be joined together. In a rapidly growing sector like ours, this construction project makes sense. With this new building, we will be able to bring these forces together in one place, thus promoting interactions and exchanges for the benefit of science,” explains the Scientific Director at IQ, Professor Alexandre Blais.
A Flagship Building
In addition to bringing IQ scientists under one roof, the building’s architecture is inspired by the instrument at the heart of quantum research. “This building really reflects who we are, says IQ Deputy Director, Professor Michel Pioro-Ladrière. The dilution refrigerator is the tool that allows us to carry out our work and make our discoveries. It faithfully represents the world of our research, which is mostly carried out at very low temperatures.”
“The architects understood very well the importance of this tool in our work and integrated it into the design. While this is the start of a construction site, for many people, both at IQ and at the university, it’s the culmination of a considerable amount of work. I would like to thank them. We can’t wait to see the end result.” adds Professor
Pioro-Ladrière.
Gératek is the contractor that has been selected to carry out the work of renowned architect Gilles Saucier, from the firm Saucier+Perrotte. The firms EXP, Saint-Georges, Latéral, Douglas, and FNX-Innov provide the engineering portion of the construction project.
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Information:
Hugues Vincelette, Communication Advisor
Institut quantique | Université de Sherbrooke
819 943-2578 | Hugues.Vincelette@USherbrooke.ca
Isabelle Huard, Media Relations Advisor
Communications Department | Université de Sherbrooke
819 560-2373 | Medias@USherbrooke.ca