The project

The civil registry office is relocated to the adjacent buildings, where a new structure is integrated. Meanwhile, the core of the collegiate church houses a conference hall that utilizes almost the full height and workspaces for students from the University of Maine, which is situated away from the city center. All of these changes are carried out in harmony with the existing surroundings, to the extent that they incorporate the existing features, modified to suit a modern architectural style.

The structure

The only concrete element is the civil registry office elevator, positioned away from the city wall to avoid impacting it. The chestnut wood structure is therefore supported by this column and the existing buildings through punctual supports. The conference hall, now facing the timber framing, is an extension of it, appearing as a single wooden structure.

Chestnut wood was chosen due to its prevalence in the region and as a reference to the shingles found on surrounding buildings. The project draws significant inspiration from the existing context but takes it further by embracing the already-present forms while presenting its own distinct architectural expression.