CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM)
An urban academic research facility in downtown Montreal, the CHUM Research Centre integrates Ventex louver solutions to support the ventilation demands of a dense, laboratory-intensive research environment within a highly constrained urban site.
Overview
The Centre de Recherche du CHUM (CRCHUM) is a major biomedical research complex developed as part of Montreal’s broader CHUM hospital redevelopment. Completed in 2013, the facility consolidates research, teaching, and administrative functions that were previously spread across multiple sites into a single, vertically organized campus in the city’s downtown core.
The complex is composed of two interconnected buildings: the 16-storey Viger Tower, which houses the majority of research laboratories and specialized facilities, and the 6-storey Saint-Antoine Tower, which accommodates administrative and public health research functions. Together, the buildings support a wide range of research programs, including wet laboratories, clinical research units, teaching spaces, and highly specialized infrastructure such as cyclotron facilities and containment laboratories.
Ventex supplied louver solutions integrated into the building envelope to support high-volume ventilation and exhaust requirements associated with laboratory and research spaces. Louvers were coordinated to serve rooftop mechanical areas, laboratory exhaust systems, and service zones, while maintaining alignment with the project’s distinctive architectural expression and dense urban footprint.
Working with our Partner
Ventex collaborated closely with VDDO / QAT to support louver integration within a vertically stacked biomedical research facility built on a highly constrained urban site. The project required careful coordination to align ventilation performance with laboratory-driven mechanical systems, while working around dense infrastructure, limited service zones, and ongoing transit operations adjacent to the site.
Collaboration focused on:
Resolving ventilation strategies within a vertically stacked research tower on a constrained urban site
Integrating louvers into service-driven elevations shaped by dense mechanical requirements
Supporting research environments with continuous operation and low tolerance for disruption
Coordinating installation alongside multiple trades within a compressed schedule
Ventex’s technical support and coordination helped ensure ventilation requirements were met without disrupting architectural intent or construction sequencing in a dense downtown environment.
"For everyday and complex projects, we rely on Ventex because they consistently demonstrate a high level of technical expertise and responsiveness. Their technical support is thorough, pragmatic, and available when it matters most. Their support on commercial and strategic aspects makes them a true partner rather than simply a supplier."
Eric Routhier, Owner, VDDO / QAT
Results
Ventex louver solutions were successfully integrated throughout the CHUM Research Centre to support consistent ventilation performance across laboratory, teaching, and support spaces. The solutions contribute to a facility designed for long-term research use, adaptability, and reliable mechanical operation within a highly specialized academic environment. The completed project plays a key role in Montreal’s health and research district, demonstrating how carefully integrated building components can support advanced scientific programs while responding to complex urban and architectural constraints.
Products Used
Verified Ventex and Alumavent models installed across the towers and podium to support intake, exhaust, and pressure-control requirements.
