In Massy-Palaiseau, GA Smart Building is delivering a 17,500 m² office and laboratory building for Safran Electronics & Defense. This project illustrates the Group’s expertise in designing and constructing complex, low-carbon real estate projects using off-site construction methods.
A strategic low-carbon project for Safran
The “Safran My Atlantis” project, launched by Safran Electronics & Defense (SED), aims to provide Safran Data Systems (SDS), currently located in Les Ulis, with a new production facility perfectly suited to its needs. The future building will also host several teams from SED and Trusted 4D, representing nearly 800 people.
A design-build competition was launched in March 2024 and won by the consortium composed of GA Smart Building and the architectural firm ECDM. The contract was signed at the end of November 2024, and the building permit application was submitted on December 20, 2024.
The site, located at 100 Avenue de Paris in Massy, benefits from excellent accessibility: immediate proximity to the RER B and C lines, the Massy-Palaiseau TGV station, the A6 and A10 highways, and Orly Airport. The upcoming arrival of the T12 tramway and Line 18 of the Grand Paris Express will further strengthen this strategic connectivity.
Functional and sustainable architecture in low-carbon concrete
Designed by ECDM architects, the building adopts the existing architectural codes of the Safran site, with simple lines, a strong horizontal rhythm, and understated materials: light low-carbon concrete, aluminum frames, and wood.
The interior layout has been designed to offer optimized and functional spaces:
- ground floor integrating the reception hall, logistics areas, changing rooms, technical rooms, storage facilities, and initial office spaces,
- upper floors dedicated to offices, laboratories, and technical areas devoted to research and development as well as the production of electronic components,
- a vegetated central landing from the ground floor to level R+3, encouraging smooth circulation and promoting the use of stairs.
Urban biodiversity and green spaces for user comfort
With the aim of strengthening biodiversity, the project includes the planting of trees and shrubs adapted to the local climate. Green spaces and pedestrian pathways will enhance user comfort and improve the attractiveness of the site. The roofs will also be vegetated, contributing both to the building’s thermal insulation and to the environmental quality of the project.
Energy performance and off-site construction by GA Smart Building
The project uses GA Smart Building’s industrial solutions to combine environmental performance with construction efficiency:
- prefabricated low-carbon concrete façades manufactured in the factory,
- integration of external joinery and ventilation grilles,
- use of heat pumps,
- green roofs, local planting, and water retention basins to enhance biodiversity.
As with all GA Smart Building projects, this development complies with the European taxonomy and benefits from off-site construction methods. The new office and laboratory building for Safran in Massy-Palaiseau will also meet the RE2020 2025 threshold.
The 15-month construction period will allow delivery by the end of 2026.