Renovation of Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve paddocks - A modern and multi-purpose infrastructure for the 2019 edition of the Canadian Grand Prix

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 14, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau (SPJD) unveiled at a press conference today the final concept of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve paddocks renovation project.  The major project, which entails the construction of a new, modern and multi-purpose building, will have a $48 million budget, $30 million of which will come from the City of Montréal and $18 million from the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Occupation du territoire (MAMOT).

Regarded as the largest tourist event in the country, the Canadian Grand Prix receives an incomparable exposure internationally. The current Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve infrastructures have exceeded their serviceable lifespan and are in need of an upgrade. Formula One World Championship requirements have changed substantially since the first Grand Prix in 1978, particularly in terms of hosting the F1 teams and the technological needs related to the garages, control tower and media areas.    

The project will enable the consolidating of all of the services into one building, which currently is not the case. Furthermore, the SPJD has worked with its partners to devise a modern, accessible building on the cutting edge of technology, one which can be used for other purposes besides the Grand Prix.

It should be noted that, as part of the renewal of the agreement to stage the Canadian Grand Prix from 2015 to 2029, the Société du parc Jean- Drapeau (SPJD) made the commitment to renovate and expand the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve infrastructures. The objective of the project is to upgrade the equipment in the paddocks, which were built in 1988, and bring it up to the standards required by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Formula One World Championship (FOWC), while increasing the capacity of the loges above the garages to 5,000 people, up from the current capacity of 1,800. The building will be equipped, among other things, with a freight elevator which can be used to bring cars or heavy furniture to each of the levels of the building. It will also have a glassed-in elevator for the clientele.

The new paddocks will be set up on three storeys, divided in the following manner:

• 1^st storey: F1 team garages, control tower and offices for the staff
• 2^nd storey: Loges, control tower, podium and media areas
• 3^rd storey: Loges and terrace

Construction will begin immediately after the 2018 Grand Prix is over, and the project will be completed in April, 2019. Today, the SPJD issued a public call for tender to find an entrepreneur for the project. 

Impact during construction work

While work on this project is going on, it is not expected to have any impact for athletes training
at the Olympic Basin, which is located behind the paddocks. As for Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve users,
a few slow-down measures will be implemented in this area, for everyone's safety. But the work
is not expected to result in any additional closures of the track. 

About the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau

The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau is a City of Montréal para-municipal organization whose mission is to manage, administrate, develop, protect and animate Parc Jean-Drapeau. 

For further information about the project or to download the technical designs, please go to http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com.

SOURCE SOCIETE DU PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU