METRO Distribution Centre, Terrebonne commercial design, Québec real estate images, Canadian property

METRO Distribution Centre in Terrebonne

March 4, 2025

Architects: GKC Architecture & Design Imperatori Design

Location: Terrebonne, Québec, Canada

Photos: Adrien Williams

METRO Distribution Centre, Terrebonne, Québec, Canada

GKC Architecture & Design (GKC) and Imperatori Design are proud to have been commissioned to design METRO Distribution Centre, a leader in the food and pharmacy sectors in Quebec and Ontario, to participate in the construction of a new automated distribution centre for fresh and frozen products in Terrebonne, a suburb of Montreal. This project represents an investment of $420 million.

As architect and prime consultant, GKC was responsible for the overall architectural design of the buildings, while Imperatori Design undertook the interior design of the administrative centre and daycare within this ultramodern complex spanning a total area of 55,742 m². The two Montreal firms combined their expertise and creativity to design highly functional and attractive spaces that align with METRO’s desire to better serve its customers, merchants, and pharmacist-owners, while enhancing collaboration among the 250 warehouse employees and 500 office staff that work on the premises.

Expressing a strong, assertive identity through architectural design
METRO’s identity is immediately recognizable by the emblematic bright red colour that adorns different surfaces of the complex, offset by grey and black surfaces. The building’s volumes, as well as the colours and materials that were chosen, clearly convey the centre’s multiple functions, giving it a strong, assertive aesthetic that reflects the grocer’s identity.

Special care was taken when designing the façades to make them more dynamic, with the use of different colours and the addition of vertical bands in random sequences on the blind walls helping to soften the building’s perceived length.

The distribution centre itself boasts several innovative features, including a 34-metre-high volume at its maximum (equivalent to nine storeys), which is twice the standard height for this kind of building. Requiring custom-made steel columns, this configuration optimizes the handling and storage of frozen products and reduces the building’s footprint and overall use of land—a tangible environmental benefit.

As for the administrative centre, its striking black curtain wall allows employees to benefit from abundant natural light. Echoed here again, opaque black vertical stripes add dynamism to the façade, both in the glazed upper section and at the metal base of the ground floor, as well as extending horizontally across the pavement surrounding the building. This design helps make the office spaces feel more open and seamlessly integrates the administrative centre’s volume with the complex’s overall purpose.

Distinctive interior design that balances warmth and functionality
The interior design of the administrative centre—a three-storey, 9,300 m² office complex that connects to the distribution center—prioritizes high-quality work environments and access to welcoming shared spaces. The goal being to foster collaboration between the complex’s 250 warehouse employees and approximately 500 office workers, the design puts an emphasis on creating a strong sense of belonging by incorporating elements that reflect the company’s culture and values.

This approach seeks to transcend the traditional workspace by incorporating elements that foster a fulfilling daily experience akin to the comfort and quality of life typically found at home. To achieve this, the administrative centre houses a variety of spaces designed to promote work-life balance, including designated work areas, multifunctional rooms, a cafeteria, informal meeting spaces, a fitness centre, and a daycare.

The administrative centre’s interior harmonizes with the exterior, helping to create a unified identity. While a striking contrast is established between the white panels on one side of the atrium and the three-storey black staircase on the other, the warmth created by the white oak materials and the calming, nature-inspired colours of the cladding offset the raw material feel of the concrete floors and steel elements.

The main circulation paths are organized around two primary axes, structuring and guiding the flow of people through space in a fluid and intuitive way. This spatial arrangement also enhances wayfinding by providing clear visual cues throughout the interior and around the building’s perimeter. The glass walls create a feeling of depth that blurs the building’s boundaries, reinforcing the organic connection between its occupants and the surrounding nature.

Distribution automation to improve logistics efficiency and safety
The distribution centre has a surface area of over 50,000 m² and has three distinct heights of 14 m, 26 m, and 34 m., housing two separate temperature-controlled zones, one set at -28°C and the other at 4°C. Together, they can accommodate 40,000 pallets for approximately 7,000 fresh and frozen products intended for over 700 stores across Quebec. The centre also includes a 92-door dock for efficiently handling incoming and outgoing goods.

Warehouse handling and management are automated using a German-engineered Witron robotic system, which METRO already uses in its Ontario warehouses. This automation system not only enhances the efficiency of product distribution, but also benefits employees by making warehouse work safer and less demanding by reducing the physical strain on workers and replacing traditional manual labour with more streamlined operator roles.

The environment, a primary concern

Respect for the environment significantly influenced decisions regarding site planning, space layout, and material selection. To this end, a primary focus was placed on effective water management: an underground retention basin was implemented to manage stormwater, while a permanent basin equipped with a treatment system alleviates pressure on the municipal infrastructure and prevents clogging. The building itself occupies less than a third of the total site area, and its white roof helps mitigate the heat island effect.

By maximizing its height, the distribution centre can have a smaller overall footprint, providing a notable environmental advantage. One-third of the site is dedicated to green spaces, which feature native plant species that require minimal maintenance while satisfying both aesthetic and environmental standards. In addition, the heat generated by the hybrid refrigeration system is recovered and used to heat the offices and the daycare.

METRO Distribution Centre in Terrebonne, Canada – Building Information

Architects: GKC Architecture & Design Imperatori Design – https://www.forumproperties.com/fr

Location: Terrebonne, QC, CA
Area: 600,000 sq. ft.
Completion: 2023

About GKC Architecture & Design
A national leader in industrial and commercial architecture, GKC Architecture & Design has earned a stellar reputation for its consulting services and technical expertise, particularly in complex technology-based projects. The firm also specializes in the design of functional and aesthetic workplaces that translate company brand and culture, with offices and amenities that foster the well-being of employees.

As architect and prime consultant, GKC leverages its unifying leadership and extensive experience to set the tone for the entire team on each project, fostering a transparent and collaborative approach. With around 4 million square feet of projects completed each year, the team stays on top of the latest innovations and trends so they can continue to offer sustainable alternative solutions and ensure the functional, aesthetic, and financial success of the projects they oversee.

About Imperatori Design
Based in Montreal, Imperatori Design specializes in creating exceptional work environments across various sectors. The company’s portfolio includes diverse projects in Quebec, Canada, and the United States.

The Imperatori Design team comprises experienced multidisciplinary professionals and emerging talents who all share the goal of providing innovative solutions that create unique environments aligned with their clients’ brand images and business models. They emphasize creative thinking, the quality of their solution-finding processes, and partnering with their clients to understand their needs and those of their organizations thoroughly.

Imperatori Design believes that every workspace should be a vibrant expression of a company’s vision and uniqueness, allowing visitors to access its culture immediately while positively impacting employee performance and well-being. Their process is rooted in attentive listening, ongoing dialogue, and feedback, while challenging the status quo to envision and implement new approaches to crafting the ideal workspace.