Hilton Québec: Rethinking Concrete… in Aluminum
In Québec City’s urban landscape, few buildings are as iconic as the Hilton Québec hotel. Built in 1973 in a boldly brutalist style, it stands as an architectural landmark on Parliament Hill. But after nearly half a century of exposure to the elements, its envelope required a major overhaul. In 2021, Cyrell AMP had the honor of contributing to this ambitious project alongside BGLA, Revêtements Vulcain, Invest Hotels, and several technical partners.
Recreating the Look of Concrete—Without the Constraints
The mandate was clear: replace a heavy precast concrete envelope with a higher-performance system, without compromising the raw, mineral, and monolithic appearance of the original building. A tall order—successfully met thanks to Cyrell AMP’s expertise in aluminum transformation.
We designed custom-folded panels in embossed 3003-H14 aluminum, finished with a textured liquid paint containing a sand additive, meticulously applied by our partner Anacolor. This unique treatment reproduces the visual effect of concrete with remarkable fidelity, while offering flexibility, lightness, and durability.
This custom finish opens the door to endless possibilities: smooth, sandblasted, rough, or raw concrete—each texture can be reinterpreted in aluminum. This not only preserves the architectural signature but also delivers solutions that are lighter, easier to handle, install, and maintain.
Aluminum: An Ally for Technical Areas
One of aluminum’s greatest—and often underestimated—advantages is its accessibility and modularity. In areas such as mechanical or technical rooms, often hidden behind precast concrete, replacing the material with aluminum offers tangible benefits:
- Reduced weight = less load on the structure
- Ease of installation = shorter construction time
- Simplified maintenance = quick access to technical systems (HVAC, plumbing, networks)
- Concrete appearance = preserved aesthetic integration
It is the perfect solution for façades concealing technical equipment: maintaining the original style while modernizing functionality.
An Envelope Built to Last
For Hilton Québec, the new system is based on a prefabricated steel framework, clad in textured aluminum panels. The complete assembly improves thermal insulation, air tightness, and weather resistance, ensuring durable performance for the next 50 years.
Cyrell AMP: Giving Metal a Voice, Expressing the Material
With Cyrell AMP, aluminum becomes a true architectural chameleon. Whether imitating wood, concrete, or creating a unique visual signature, it offers architects creative freedom without adding technical constraints.