Véolia Environnement Centre Est / Arte Charpentier Architectes

Architects: Arte Charpentier Architectes
Location: Rue Lionel Terray, Jonage, France
Architect In Charge: Jérôme le Gall, Sylvie Levallois & Gregoire Mussat
Interiors: Edith Richard & Clémence Rabin Le Gall
Landscape : Nathalie Leroy
Area: 8,7oo sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Geraldine Bruneel, Paul Kozlowski

Located in Jonage, in the eastern suburbs of Lyon, this innovative and harmonious campus houses a professional training centre for environment, energy, transport, waste and water sectors. It is designed to reflect the Veolia group’s level of excellence in the field of environmental issues, and is arranged around a garden designed as an Agora. The campus is open, and south-facing to protect from northern winds, and displays optimum use of natural elements.

The Agora is located in the centre of the campus, connected to the reception and recreation areas: the common room, a 150-seat auditorium and a training centre consisting of workshops, classrooms and offices. A two-storey building, set further back, is for trainee and staff accommodation. It has 55 rooms and a sports hall. Car parking is located well away from the training buildings.

The building is certified under French norms for Service Industry buildings- (HQE, BBC level), satisfying criteria for energy consumption below 60 kWhEP / m² year. The façades are covered in larch wood siding with sunshades. A Zinc skin with lens insertions and large glass facades create light, bright, and pleasant spaces.

Particular attention has been paid to the roof covering, so as to ensure good architectural and environmental coherence, combining green roofs and solar panels. This ambitious project enables Veolia Environnement to illustrate the demanding nature of its environmental concerns, by constructing and operating a «sustainable» campus.