May 15 2014
Today, in the presence of the Lac-Mégantic community, Musi-Café owner Yannick Gagné officially launched the reconstruction of Musi-Café in Lac-Mégantic's new downtown core. The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development, Minister for La Francophonie and MP for Mégantic – L'Érable, Ghislain Bolduc, MNA of Mégantic, Marc A. Bovet, BONE Structure founder and president, and many media and government representatives were on site to witness the installation of the first steel beams.
As a gesture of remembrance for the victims of the July 6 tragedy, and in support of the Lac-Mégantic community and Musi-Café's owner, those present had the opportunity to write a personal message on one of the new building's beams, which will be installed at the very end of the project.
"I'm really happy and touched to be able to rebuild Musi-Café, the restaurant-bar and concert venue that I've poured all my energies into since 2002," said Mr. Gagné. "It's a step forward that will enable my team and me to face the future with optimism."
Since some of the financing details for the project, estimated at $1.6 million, have yet to be finalized, the date for the reopening has not been announced. Mr. Gagné hopes to welcome his first customers in August or September.
A larger, more modern Musi-Café
Like its well-known predecessor, the new Musi-Café will be a friendly place where patrons can meet friends and socialize. The new 6,000-square-foot, two-storey building at the corner of Papineau and Komery streets will feature a high-quality kitchen, 150 seats inside, and two patios: a 70‑seat main patio overlooking the Chaudière River and another with 35 to 40 seats facing the downtown. A section of the bar's interior will be decorated in the style of the original Musi-Café. A microbrewery will later be added to the building.
"Today's event is a powerful symbol of the revitalization of our downtown core, both for Lac-Mégantic residents and visitors to our region," stated Mayor Colette Roy Laroche who could not be there. "We need convivial places like Musi-Café, which present artists from our region and across Quebec, where people can get together and enjoy themselves."
Built using BONE Structure's revolutionary technology
Musi-Café is being built by BONE Structure, a firm selected for its green, energy-efficient building methods inspired by the automotive and aerospace industries. To provide a building of the highest quality and meet the tight construction schedule, BONE Structure, through its authorized partner, Dumas Inc., has teamed up with Archipel Architecture, EXP ingénierie and Groupe Exca, among others.
"We feel privileged to be part of this very inspiring, important project for the Lac-Mégantic community," said Marc A. Bovet of BONE Structure. "BONE Structure can assemble buildings quickly, so that people can again come together in an environment that is as welcoming as the people of Lac-Mégantic. With its many windows and spacious interiors, the new building will look onto the city and the river, attracting both regulars and tourists in the region."
BONE Structure's buildings use a light steel structure that makes them highly adaptable to a broad range of needs. The system developed by Mr. Bovet's team makes it possible to move interior walls if necessary and add openings, doors and windows without affecting structural integrity. The buildings can also be erected easily and quickly without generating construction waste on the site.
About Musi-Café
Established in March 2002 by Yannick Gagné, the Musi-Café restaurant and bar in Lac-Mégantic quickly acquired a reputation as the place for cultural and social gatherings in the region. For 12 years, it served as a venue for many artists from the immediate area and from across Quebec, and was destroyed along with a large part of the downtown core in the tragic accident of July 6, 2013. The rebuilt Musi-Café is a strong symbol of the determination to revitalize the municipality on the shores of Lake Mégantic.
About BONE Structure
BONE Structure was created in 2005 from the desire of its founding president, Marc A. Bovet, to revolutionize traditional residential and commercial construction methods. In addition to being environmentally friendly and energy efficient, the BONE Structure system promotes the development of local economies and gives free rein to clients' and architects' creativity by making it easy to form vast spaces with variable volumes and grandiose fenestration. BONE Structure has a network of authorized builders composed of general and specialized contractors, project managers, developers and promoters across Canada. They also share the company corporate values of Respect, Transparency, Loyalty and Security. BONE Structure is not a modular or traditional prefabricated construction system, but a technology inspired by the automotive and aerospace industries and by the materials used—steel and other composites. The technology allows for quick assembly of buildings such as houses, condos up to four stories high, restaurants, car washes and other applications.