Set in a dense forest on the edge of Terrebonne, Quebec, the city’s new Intermunicipal Police Headquarters is more than a civic building. Designed to LEED® Gold standards, this 13,000 m², four-storey facility serves the communities of Terrebonne, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, and Bois-des-Filion. With its layered glazing system, the building merges environmental performance, security requirements, and a strong architectural presence, all while integrating harmoniously with its natural surroundings.
- Architects: consortium of Lemay Architecture et Design and Sid Lee Architecture
- Fabricator: Prelco
- Glazier: Groupe Brosseau Vitrerie
- Glass manufacturer: Walker Glass (Walker Textures® Satinlite acid-etched glass)
- Photo credit: André Noël Photography
Aesthetics and Visual Integration
From afar, the building’s two distinct volumes emulate the surrounding forest. The upper bar recalls tree trunks in its striated form, while the darker glass base mirrors the shadowed ground. The use of Satinlite acid-etched glass gives the façade a matte quality, diffusing light and avoiding harsh reflections. This treatment reduces visual mass and allows the building to blend naturally with its environment, while the reflective interlayer adds a subtle play of light and depth that changes throughout the day.
A Satinlite etch reduces glare, avoids harsh reflections, and creates a subtle depth that shifts with light throughout the day.
Image courtesy of Lemay Architecture
“At the heart of the project vision was the intention to integrate and harmonize it perfectly with the unique context of its site. Two key features stand out: the majestic surrounding forest, and the basin created by sand extraction, the remnant of a former quarry. We transformed this basin into a new horizon, onto which the first floor and basement levels open up. From the outside, the shape is rectangular, sober and elegant, and from the inside, a wealth of forms emerge, following topographical lines to create welcoming interior courtyards.”
– Ramzi Bosha, Architect, Lemay
The building podium features a sophisticated glass assembly:
- Outer lite: 6mm clear glass with a full-surface Walker Textures® Satinlite etch on surface 1
- Inner lite: 6mm clear glass with a reflective coating on surface 3 and black ceramic paint on surface 4
This laminated configuration produces a façade that appears visually darkened, with a matte, low-reflectance finish. Ultra-thin silicone joints and minimal rear supports ensure large, uninterrupted glass surfaces, allowing the design intent to read as one continuous volume.
Why Select a Satinlite Finish?
During the design process, it’s important to choose a solution that not only delivers on aesthetics but also on durability and performance. The Satinlite finish offers:
- proven and tested performance
- easy maintenance and cleaning
- excellent scratch resistance
- a refined matte appearance with a touch of gloss and transparency
- versatility, useful for both exterior and interior surfaces
- compatibility with a wide range of materials and treatments
Ramzi Bosha describes how Satinlite is used at the Terrebonne Police Headquarters, in combination with a mirrored treatment, “not to create imposing mirrors, but to blend the volumes into the decor. This choice allows us to partially reflect the environment, creating an interaction with the surrounding natural elements.”
Design for User Experience: Privacy and Views
The police headquarters required a careful balance between security, daylighting, and user comfort. While many ground-floor spaces did not call for windows, some natural daylighting was necessary. The design team used ceramic paint and full-surface etching to allow light flow through select acid etched panels. The result: daylight enters interior spaces without compromising privacy or security.
From outside, the façade reads as a seamless surface, with no obvious indication of where windows are located. It’s an architectural solution that protects the privacy of occupants while maintaining visual unity.
Windows are hidden behind etched and ceramic-painted glass. Daylight enters, but views remain controlled.
“The etched glass lets daylight in without creating direct views in or out. Meanwhile, the ceramic paint enabled us to achieve the desired transition in opacity at window areas. From the outside, the façade reads as one large unified surface with no visible windows.”
– Carl-Antonyn Default, Mr. Arch, Design Director, Sid Lee Architecture
Sustainability and Bird Safety
Beyond aesthetics, the etched glass contributes to environmental performance. Its matte surface diffuses reflections that can otherwise endanger birds, an especially important consideration given the forested site. The glass also supports LEED® Gold modelling by aligning durability, daylighting, and ecological responsibility in a single building envelope strategy.
The Terrebonne Intermunicipal Police Headquarters demonstrates how layered glazing strategies can meet diverse project demands – technical performance, ecological responsibility, privacy, and integration with nature – without sacrificing design intent. By combining acid-etched, reflective, and ceramic-painted glass, the project delivers a façade that is both secure and elegant, functional and deeply connected to its site.
Image courtesy of Lemay Architecture
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