Glass-Clad Mies van der Rohe Gas Station Converted into a Youth & Senior Activity Center

Most gas stations aren't considered architecturally worthy enough to save - let alone preserve historically and renovate. However, <a href="http://www.miessociety.org/" target="_blank">Mies van der Rohe's</a> gas station on Nun's Island outside of Montreal is a definite exception, and the modernist glass and steel structure recently underwent a conversion into a youth and senior activity center. The project was carried out by Montreal firm <a href="http://www.arch-fabg.com/" target="_blank">FABG</a>, who refurbished the original structure and took inspiration from Mies' vision to create a more useful and energy-efficient building.

<a href="http://www.arch-fabg.com/" target="_blank">FABG's</a> conversion is not a historical restoration alone though and they did not recreate everything that Mies had intended for the project.

The gas station conversion was completed in the spirit of the original plans, but provides functional space for the youth and seniors of the community.

To renovate the project, FABG first repaired the building envelope, repainted the brick work and the structure itself.

Then they had to develop new strategies for the mechanical and electrical equipment that would not take away from the structure.

To minimize mechanical equipment in the building or on the roof, they installed geothermal wells in the parking lot.

Energy efficient lighting inside the building was also installed and recreates the original feel of the vision, while natural daylighting through the floor to ceiling windows fills the spaces.