Low-carbon: at SIMI, the momentum for off-site construction is gathering

At the conference entitled “Tomorrow, everything off-site!”, which brought together public and private project owners (Grand Paris Aménagement, Paris La Défense, Europolia, ESPACES FERROVIAIRES, Keys REIM); the Chairman of the Toulouse-based developer and builder spoke once again about the current momentum involving the founding of the association of stakeholders in the French off-site industry, and the signing of a Charter last October to develop off-site construction and renovation. In November, the French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced her support for the off-site sector, which she described as “a response to the need to produce environmentally efficient buildings, and to do it quickly and affordably”.

“Off-site construction represents the future of building and renovation in France. I am delighted to see that more and more stakeholders are joining the movement to roll out a genuine industrial revolution, one that will be low-carbon, social and attractive” said Sébastien Matty.

The conference was an opportunity to illustrate in concrete terms the benefits of off-site construction, through two flagship projects:

– An office project in Toulouse, currently under construction, which will be delivered in 2024: 1pulsion, referred to by Fadia KARAM, Managing Director of ESPACES FERROVIAIRES (project owner), Raphaël CATONNET, Managing Director of Europolia (development company); and Vincent FÉRAT, President of Keys REIM (investor).

This 13,000 m² building designed by François Leclercq is the outcome of the redevelopment of SNCF-owned land around the Toulouse Matabiau station. It will be the first building to be constructed as part of the Grand Matabiau quais d’Oc urban renewal project, managed by Europolia, Toulouse Métropole’s Société Publique Locale. It was built in a mere 15 months by assembling structural and façade sections produced in one of the GA Smart Building plants, 15 km away from the site. When completed, it will accommodate almost 1,000 SNCF Group employees in Toulouse.

– A mixed housing and commercial building in Courbevoie, referred to by Pierre-Yves Guice, Managing Director of Paris La Défense and Sophie Meynet, Managing Director of GA Smart Building Residential Property.

The Synapses project, located on the outskirts of central Courbevoie, was the winner of the Empreintes tender process for mixed, low-carbon urban projects initiated by Paris La Défense. It was co-developed by Pitch Immo and GA Smart Building, in partnership with Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia to provide local shops, services devoted to soft mobility, catering and sports, and it is arranged into two co-living buildings. This 7,800 m² project, to be completed in 20 months, will be the first 100% modular wooden tower block in France.

At the close of the conference, Stephan de Faÿ, Managing Director of Grand Paris Aménagement, announced that private stakeholders would be able to join the signatories of the Charter to develop off-site construction and renovation: “I cannot see any other option that is able to address all these ecological, economic and architectural issues. In 10 years’ time, we won’t even be questioning the option of off-site construction because it will also enable us to refurbish existing buildings to meet the ZNA (Zero Net Artificialisation) criteria.”