Celebrating excellence and inspiring greatness in a setting rich with history
The Centre sportif de l’Université de Montréal (CEPSUM), inaugurated for the 1976 Olympic Games, welcomes the public and the student community to enjoy its inviting facilities for practicing their favourite sports. It also proudly serves as the home of the Carabins, North America’s largest French-language university sports program.
In redeveloping the centre, the Université de Montréal sought to create an inspiring, multifunctional environment that would preserve the site’s historical integrity while incorporating the university’s colours and adapting it to contemporary standards of comfort and functionality. The primary challenge was to strike a delicate balance between respecting its heritage and modernizing the space.
Various areas have been adorned with original murals and signature signage elements, while functional equipment has transformed the spaces to meet the demands of the field while inspiring athletes, staff, and the public alike. In the newly reimagined, welcoming, and safe training room, a fresh design embodies the spirit and values of the Carabins, fostering a dynamic and motivating atmosphere that strengthens both team spirit and a sense of belonging. On the football field, a new scoreboard highlights the score alongside the team’s recent exploits. Oversized installations around the swimming pool complete the updates, meeting competitive and training needs while respecting the existing architecture.
In keeping with this vision, the Carabins’ social and academic hub of Guy-Fréchette Carabins Salon along with the training center proudly display the team colours of royal blue, white, and black. Strategic graphic interventions throughout the facility celebrate distinguished athletes and benefactors, further reinforcing the connection between the community and the institution.
The graphic interventions at CEPSUM go beyond mere aesthetic improvements; they represent a harmonious blend of the centre’s rich legacy and future potential. These newly transformed spaces will continue to inspire, motivate, and unite sports enthusiasts for years to come, perpetuating the spirit of excellence and self-improvement passed down from the 1976 Olympic Games.
