Bélanger Salach Architecture

Bélanger Salach Architecture is a bilingual, full-service architectural firm that is located in Sudbury, Ontario. The firm was founded in 1964 by Arthur Townend along with his partner John Stefura. Since its founding, it has been involved in the design of numerous buildings within the landscape of Sudbury.

The firm specializes in a diverse range of architectural projects, including recreational, healthcare, educational, and tourism facilities. Their expertise extends beyond Sudbury, contributing to the design of various facilities across Ontario and even internationally. The firm is led by Louis Bélanger and Amber Salach, who are senior partners of the firm. The trajectory of the firm has been shaped by numerous collaborations with architectural firms throughout the years, contributing to a diverse portfolio and sustained growth.

Over the years, Bélanger Salach has garnered numerous awards and recognition for their architectural works with the most recent being the 2023 Architecture Press Release Awards for Place de Arts.

History
During the post World War II era in Sudbury, a partnership between Canadian architects Arthur Townend and John Stefura was created. This partnership, which evolved to include many other members who came and went, and eventually facilitated the creation of Bélanger Salach Architects as the firm is known today. Townend and Stefura created their firm with the intention of responding architecturally to the Sudbury's landscape, with its rocky topography, lack of trees and artistically arid architectural scene. Prior to Townend and Stefura starting their own firm, Townend was in a partnership with Louis Fabbro at the firm called Fabbro & Townend from 1955 to 1964.

After which, John Baleshta joined the firm in 1965 to create Townend Stefura Baleshta Architects. This trio made a significant impact on Sudbury’s architectural landscape, especially within the downtown area throughout the late 1960s and 1970s. Some notable examples of Townend Stefura Baleshta Architects’ work include the Thornloe Chapel (1967) and Tom Davies Civic Square (1973). As the 1980s neared, Blaine Nicholls became a managing partner at the firm, when the firm was renamed Townend Stefura Baleshta and Nicholls Architects in 1979. Together, and in collaboration with Moriyama Teshima Architects, Science North was designed and began construction in 1981 and finished in 1984. This became one of the most important buildings in Sudbury that was unrelated to its mining activity, and give people from out of town a reason to visit Sudbury. Townend and Stefura's partnership finally came to an end in 1988 as Arthur Townend retired.

Stefura's retirement came in 1993, leaving Nicholls to partner with Louis Bélanger and Rick Yallowega, transforming the firm into Nicholls Yallowega Bélanger Architects. During this era for the firm, the design focus shifted from being artistically motivated, to being more profit motivated. Nicholls Yallowega Bélanger designed many schools, including St. Benedicts Catholic School, and École Secondaire Catholique du Sacre-Coeur in Sudbury.

Upon the arrival of the 2010s, Yallowega Bélanger Architects designed more prolific buildings such as Dynamic Earth, the South End Public Library and the Northern Water Sports Complex. After Rick Yallowega left the firm, Amber Salach joined Louis Bélanger in Bélanger Salach Architects which brought the firm’s timeline to the present. The firm continues to design buildings to fit the architectural needs of Greater Sudbury and beyond, with their most recent prolific project, Place Des Arts, Opening in April 2022.

Design philosophy
1964–1979 | Townned Stefura Beleshta Architects | Design Philosophy: Brutalism

1979–1993 | Townend Stefura Baleshta Nicholls Architects | Design Philosophy: Modern Architecture

1993–2007 | Nicholls Yallowega Bélanger Architects | Design Philosophy: Modern & Mid-Century Modern Architecture

2007 – present | Bélanger Salach Architecture | Design Philosophy: Sustainable Architecture

Bélanger Salach Architecture has a diverse timeline of architectural styles associated with each partner era. From 1964 to 1979, The firm's founding partners, Arthur Townend, John Stefura and Orest Beleshta established an architectural style revolving around the principles of brutalism. Characterized by raw concrete, geometric forms, negative and positive space, and little to no ornamental additives, Brutalism emerged as a bold architectural movement, often associated with governmental or institutional buildings. During this time, the firm designed Pavilion Alphonse Raymond, Tom Davies Civic Square, and many others which contributed to Brutalist architecture. The firm then transitioned to Townend Stefura Baleshta Nicholls Architects from 1979 to 1993, embracing the idea of Modern Architecture. This shift led from Brutalism's heavy geometric structures towards "lighter" and more streamlined designs characterized by simplicity and functionality. Such buildings included Feilding Park Bird Sanctuary and Paroisse Ste-Anne-des-Pins. The use of materials and form plays a crucial role in the appearance of modern architecture. Architects typically utilize glazing and window mullions, or curtain walls to achieve the look of a "lighter" building.

In 1993, the firm underwent another transformation, becoming Nicholls Yallowega Bélanger Architects, during which they embraced both Modern and mid-century modern architectural styles. This era revolved around combining contemporary design frameworks with the nostalgic aesthetics of the mid-20th century. Since 2007, the firm has operated as Bélanger Salach Architects, focusing on sustainable and Practical Architecture such as the newly constructed Place des Arts located in Sudbury, Ontario. The firm is constantly altering their styles based on leading principle architects and continues to carry out their services for Sudbury and its surrounding area.

Laurentian Hospital
After leaving Fabbro & Townend in 1964, Arthur Townend obtained the contract for the Laurentian Hospital which brought him to partner with John Stefura and creating the firm Townend & Stefura. This project only added to the experience of Townend in his specialty designing of health facilities since he worked on numerous health facilities projects between 1948 and 1964, including the St. Joseph's Health Centre. The firm continued to contribute to new developments of the Laurentian hospital throughout the years, including the addition of the Cancer Centre in 1991, which were the last drawings Townend signed off in 1988 when he retired. Even today, health care is a recurring theme for the firm as they still do designs for additions and renovations for this very hospital.

Tom Davies Square
Tom Davies Square is another project that was designed by the firm. The design process began in 1963 with hopes of bringing more life to Sudbury's downtown core. The facility was later built and completed in 1977.

Science North
Science North is an important piece of Bélanger Salach's history as it has become one of Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attractions. The firm helped with the design which was led by Raymond Moriyama. The concept began in the early 1980s.

St. David's Catholic Elementary School
St. David’s Catholic Elementary School was designed in 2016 by the firm in order to replace a school from the 1950s that was located nearby. The school serves a large a indigenous population and an underprivileged community. The structure for this school is primarily made up of glulam laminated timber.

Place des Arts
Place des Arts is one of Bélanger Salach Architecture's most recent projects which was completed in 2022. It was a joint venture with Moriyama & Teshima Architects. who they formerly collaborated with for the design of Science North.

Notable awards

 * 2023 – Architecture Press Release Awards (Place des Arts in collaboration with Moriyama Teshima Architects)
 * Two 2023 16th edition of the Grands Prix du Design Awards (Place des Arts in collaboration with Moriyama Teshima Architects)
 * 2021 – Wood Works Northern Ontario Excellence Award (Laurentian University Student Centre in collaboration with Gow Hastings Architects)
 * 2019 – Company of the Year recipient of the Bell Business Excellence Award
 * 2018 – Sudbury Design Award (Laurentian University Student Centre in collaboration with Gow Hastings Architects)
 * 2018 – Sudbury Design Award (Place Des Arts Du Grand Sudbury)
 * 2017 – Ontario Woodworks Institutional Wood Design Award|Ontario Wood Works Institutional Wood Design Award]] under $10M (St. David Catholic Elementary School)
 * 2017 – OAA Landmark Award (Fielding Memorial Chapel of St. Mark)
 * 2016 – Sudbury Design Award (Northern Water Sports Centre)