Transit passengers arriving at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport will be quite surprised (and happy) to see the airport modernized its transit experience.

Designed by Montreal-based Jodoin Lamarre Pratte architects, the new transit center installation greatly improves the travel experience for passengers transiting to other flights. This dedicated transit center separates arriving transit passengers from those who have arrived at their final destination, saving time and providing each group with a separate arrivals hall to speed up border control. The YUL transit center was completed just this year, making it fully operational.

© Adrien Williams

Located at the intersection of the airport’s three concourses — international, cross-border and domestic — the space is bathed in natural light thanks to a 77-by 44-foot skylight above the automated inspection kiosk area. For the new connection center, ADM Aéroports de Montréal wanted passengers moving through the transit experience to be left with a lasting impression of Montreal.

Thus, the YUL transit center is dedicated to passengers who will not be staying in Montréal long, representing a unique opportunity to leave these passengers with a pleasant experience, even during their brief stay. The architectural design was guided by the desire to offer these travelers a high-quality space, bright and evocative of the culture and northern charm of Montréal, Québec and greater Canada.

The project was designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing building, while distinguishing itself by the special treatment of its facades. Its dimensions make it possible to accommodate a large and growing number of visitors without overshadowing the imposing spaces of the arrivals hall, which remains the gateway to the city of Montréal.

© Adrien Williams

The building has two floors, connected to both arrivals and departures. All connecting passengers access the center at the intersection of the airport’s three jetties in an open area bathed in natural light, thanks to the large skylights and a generous curtain wall overlooking the aircraft parking lot. Once through customs, they continue on to their next destination, whether domestic, transborder or international.

© Adrien Williams

The transfer center leads to a multitude of possible destinations. This function inspired the design team to work with a triangular grid where lines intersect, converge or diverge. This dynamic grid is a common thread throughout the project, reflected in the composition of the envelope and columns, as well as in the geometry of the skylight overlooking the heart of the project: the area where passengers complete the border verification process at Primary Inspection Kiosks.

A reflection of Canada’s geographical identity on the façade is a triangular grid that reinterprets the landscape of the Canadian Shield with its dense forests, rocky outcrops and vast expanses of water. Inside the terminal, local and Canadian materials have been used, such as Atlantic black granite on the floor and birch wood as wall covering.

Contributing to thermal comfort and passenger well-being, a “green” wall is connected to the ventilation system. It maintains a comfortable level of humidity in the air preheated by a “solar” wall located on the south façade of the building, a renewable energy source.