Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
The project was conceived with a focus on durability, both in the accuracy of the spaces it offers and in the permanence of its form and materials. Exposed concrete is used both inside and outside the building, allowing a single material to serve as structure and finish. This approach avoids the need for additional layers such as wall finishes, paints, or floor coverings. The concrete defines interior spaces in its natural grey tone and becomes the facade where it is process-coloured green. It forms shaded canopies, allows for large light-filled openings, and supports climbing vegetation without damaging the surface. By freeing classroom and office spaces from fixed finishes, this material strategy also supports the building’s capacity to evolve over time.
Interior fittings incorporate solid-coloured MDF panels made from wood industry waste and bound with natural glues. These panels are used to form durable wall linings, acoustic elements, cupboards, tables, and other fixed furnishings. Integrated into the architecture, they provide flexibility in use while introducing colour and softness within the interior spaces.
Operational Emissions / Energy
The construction of public buildings in France is subject to strict regulations, with high targets set for bioclimatic performance, summer comfort, airtightness of the building envelope, and primary energy consumption over the course of the building’s lifetime. This project falls within the transition from the 2012 Thermal Regulations to the 2020 Environmental Regulations, which extend performance requirements beyond energy use alone to address overall resource consumption during operation and maintenance.
Within this framework, the building’s form, orientation, and openings support interior comfort. Shaded areas created by the structure, generous daylight, and the close relationship between interior spaces and the surrounding woodland contribute to stable conditions during use. The durability of materials and finishes further supports operational performance by limiting the need for frequent replacement or refurbishment over time.
Afterlife
The building is conceived to accommodate change over time. It is organised into two sections to allow for future extension, with one volume raised on pillars to enable flexible use of space and preserve the option of later growth. Internally, a sliding partition connects the lecture and examination rooms, allowing the spaces to be combined or separated as needed. Together, these arrangements allow the building to expand or contract in response to changing patterns of use while remaining within a fixed architectural framework.
Key products in low carbon design
