- June 5, 2025
Three secondary schools – those in Chambly and LaSalle, as well as La Croisée school in Laval – now provide their school communities with learning environments that combine educational excellence with exemplary environmental performance.
These three secondary schools, completed in consortium by Lemay, Leclerc, and Prisme, have recently achieved LEED Gold certification, a recognition that underscores these communities’ commitment to a more responsible future, as well as their dedication to providing students with optimal learning environments.
What is LEED Certification Based On?
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification evaluates buildings across seven categories: location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation.
For schools, achieving Gold level translates into healthier learning environments, reduced operating costs, and a significantly diminished carbon footprint. Beyond the building itself, these community-integrated schools feature outdoor spaces designed to limit urban heat islands and promote biodiversity.
A Rigorous Certification Process
Achieving LEED Gold certification requires rigorous documentation and verification by independent organizations. This collaborative process involves all disciplines from design through commissioning, ensuring credibility and sustainability of results.
For these three establishments, certification represents the culmination of a shared vision between school service centres, design and construction teams, and local communities, mobilized around common objectives of sustainability and educational excellence.
Environments That Shape the Future
Beyond technical performance, these schools offer something invaluable: they allow students and staff to evolve daily in spaces that embody sustainable solutions. This immersion in healthy and responsible environments naturally shapes future ambassadors of sustainable practices, creating a virtuous circle where each generation transmits the values and reflexes of development that respects both humans and the environment.
To learn more about how sustainable strategies are transforming built environment design, browse our Net Positive 2024 report.