CRJDA – Purpose-Built Youth Rehabilitation Facility

A new benchmark in healthcare design, the Rehabilitation Center for Youth with Adjustment Difficulties (CRJDA) is a purpose-built rehabilitation facility located in St-Thérèse, just north of Montreal. Developed as a major initiative under the CSSMI school service center, the building is dedicated to supporting the mental health and developmental needs of children and adolescents. From safety to comfort, every aspect of this mega project was carefully considered to provide a secure, welcoming, and therapeutically supportive environment.

Unicel Architectural was proud to contribute a complete fenestration package that balanced architectural vision with the specialized performance requirements of a psychiatric facility. Our 800R Series aluminum curtain wall system was featured prominently on the exterior envelope, including 7,500 sq.ft. of segmented curtain wall designed to give the illusion of a curved façade—an ambitious architectural feature achieved through tight fabrication tolerances and careful alignment of the segmented framing.

Inside the glazing, ViuLite® integrated blinds played a central role in ensuring daylight control and occupant well-being. Installed across 7,000 sq.ft. of window area, the motorized ViuLite® system allows for zoned or centralized control of solar heat gain and glare, reducing energy costs while enhancing thermal comfort. Because the blinds are completely sealed within the insulated glass unit, they eliminate the risk of dust and bacterial buildup—an important hygiene consideration in clinical environments. In a unique and demanding application, the ViuLite® system was also integrated into impact-resistant windows designed to withstand up to 1000 ft.-lbs of force—merging durability with privacy and daylighting control in one fully engineered solution.

In total, the project included:

• 7,000 sq.ft. of window glazing with ViuLite® integrated blinds
• 3,800 sq.ft. of window glazing without blinds
• 6,800 sq.ft. of 800R Series aluminum curtain wall
• 7,500 sq.ft. of segmented curtain wall

The glazing package featured a high-performance 40.5mm thick IGU consisting of:

• Interior: 6mm clear tempered glass with Pilkington Energy Advantage LoE (surface #2)
• 21.5mm Argon-filled airspace with ViuLite® white integrated blinds
• Exterior: Laminated 6mm / 1.5mm PVB / 6mm clear tempered safety glass

The CRJDA project not only marked a milestone in healthcare infrastructure for Quebec’s youth services, but also forged a key partnership for Unicel Architectural with Magil Tisseur Construction Group, one of the province’s leading contractors. We’re honored to have played a part in this essential initiative and proud that our solutions are contributing to a safer, healthier, and more human-centered space for young people in need.