MAPEI Canada has won the Best Project Award in the 2024 International Reference Grand Prix competition for its impressive masonry restoration at the McGill University Strathcona Building in Montreal, Quebec. The Strathcona Building, a historic Victorian-era structure, required significant restoration due to deteriorating masonry. To address the challenge, MAPEI applied its innovative fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) technology, utilizing 12 products from its Structural Strengthening and Concrete Restoration Systems.

The project stood out for its use of cutting-edge materials, particularly the FRCM, which is designed for the structural rehabilitation of masonry buildings. This advanced solution is especially beneficial for restoring heritage buildings, providing a modern method to preserve architectural integrity while enhancing structural strength.

MAPEI’s FRCM system was specifically chosen to address the deteriorating terracotta bricks that served a structural purpose in the 19th-century building. The engineers involved were initially seeking a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) solution but were impressed to discover MAPEI's FRCM option, which was ideally suited for masonry applications.

Hamza Ouziame, Engineering and Architectural Sales Representative at MAPEI, expressed pride in the project’s recognition, emphasizing how this solution can be a game-changer for heritage buildings in Canadian cities like Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. According to Ouziame, “Heritage buildings that need structural strengthening will benefit greatly from this FRCM system solution if we want to preserve them.”

In addition to the Strathcona Building project, two other Canadian projects earned honorable mentions in the competition: the "Triumph" Basketball Court Artistic Resurfacing in Montreal and the renovation of the Westin Bear Mountain Resort and Spa in Victoria, British Columbia. MAPEI USA also took home a Best Project award for its Habitat for Humanity 3D-printed Homes in Newport News, Virginia.

The International Reference Grand Prix recognizes outstanding construction projects from around the world that demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of MAPEI products in various applications, showcasing innovations in building materials and techniques.

image source: MAPEI