We are heading to rue de la Baume, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, to see a 19th-century Haussmann style building that has just been renovated by the GA Group. Its 8 floors, 2 basement levels, 2 covered courtyards and terrace represent a total of 6,600 sq m of office space. And, to put the icing on the cake, it is in the process of being BREEAM® certified. The combination of renovation, historic building and energy efficiency made the renovation project resolutely complex. Antoine Bretagne, the Manager of GA Renovation’s Works Department, walks you through the property.
From floor to specialty trades: a complete building renovation
The renovation work carried out between February 2015 and March 2016 consisted in major redevelopment of this Haussmann style building in the heart of Paris. “We stepped in after a phase of cleansing and asbestos removal, to undertake the structural demolition of the building and renovate it,” explains Antoine Bretagne, pointing out that this involved “new stairwells and lift shafts, retrofitting to bring the building into compliance for persons with reduced mobility (PRM), the building’s fire safety, and the complete fit-out of specialty and architectural trades”.
“We demolished more than 300 sq m of floors to create a patio and a mezzanine floor beneath an existing glass roof, built a concrete staircase, did major work on the acoustics, and replaced 80% of the woodwork,” adds Antoine Bretagne.
Works on an occupied site and special location: the need for tailor-made solutions
In December 2015 the first tenant arrived to occupy the 3 upper floors. “We created an exclusive access for the employees and limited the noise nuisance, which had been significantly reduced from the very beginning of works, given that a block of buildings had stayed in operation,” Bretagne points out. “The special constraints also stemmed from the fact that the work site was located in a one-way street in the centre of Paris that was difficult to access. To enable deliveries we had to install a lift for the workers and materials on the street’s right of way!”
“The building was old and didn’t meet the GA Group’s standards, so we came up with tailor-made solutions,” continues Bretagne. ”Goldsmithing work was even done on the mosaics on the lintels by one of our subcontractors.”
What about eco-performance?
In a two-pronged objective of efficient energy performance and preservation of the environment, the building is connected to the Paris Urban Heating Company (CPCU) and Climespace . Production of heat and cold is collective and based on local resources such as the water of the Seine.
In early June 2016, the building was certified with a BREEAM® Very Good rating, achieving a score of 59.7%!
By WordAppeal
