PROJECT DETAILS
Multi-sport hall in Langueux: a pioneering model
The only green sports facility listed in the French E+/C- reference system. The building features the new WICLINE 115 AFS coupled window system, which fulfils especially high requirements for thermal / sound insulation and solar shading. A first in France!
Three years after the fire that completely destroyed their former sports hall, the municipality of Langueux, located in the northwest of France near Saint-Brieuc (Département Côtes-d’Armor), opened its new multi-sport hall on 22 June 2019. This highly innovative and environmentally and technically outstanding green building made of a mixed wood and concrete structure, is part of the national pilot project of the E+/C- reference system for environmentally compatible construction. It was named as a “High-performance building” in the regional invitation for projects by ADEME, the French Environment & Energy Management Agency. It is also the first project in France to implement the new coupled window system WICLINE 115 AFS from WICONA, which fulfils especially high requirements for thermal / sound insulation and solar shading. A return to the previous building in more than one respect.
The Langueux sports hall rises from the ashes
After 13 months of construction, the inauguration of the new sports hall appears like a rebirth, as though outwitting the fate that had led to the devastation of the previous building in December 2015. “After the fire the question of building a new facility quickly arose because the municipality could not do without it” explained Jean-Luc Loichon, Langueux’s property and public procurement manager. “After a 6 month assessment period we developed the programme in only 4 months with the support of elected officials and associations. We considered it important to include future users (associations, schools, community services, etc.) in this project from the start in order to meet their needs. The result was this new multi-purpose sports complex, equipped with new halls and various club and training rooms. We have increased the surface area compared to the previous sports hall.”
Pilot project gains the ADEME environment agency award
Having been involved for a long time in an environmental approach, the municipality wanted to make this facility an environmental showpiece. "Elected officials and technical services are committed to a careful approach to reduce our energy footprint. When we build, we aim to go beyond the applicable regulations, to push the quality of our buildings further. Our objective was to construct a positive energy building that emits less greenhouse gases. We believe that it is the role of local and regional authorities to set an example in the face of climate change," added Jean-Luc Loichon. An environmental approach that was welcomed by ADEME. The project received an award in the regional call for projects "High-performance buildings" and the municipality received a grant of €100,000. It is also the only sports complex selected for ADEME’s OBEC Programme (Objectifs Bâtiments Énergie Carbone / Energy and carbon targets in building construction), for a country-wide trial of the E+/C- reference system for environmental construction, as a pilot project for the future new build regulations.
Powerful geometry
Designed by the architect’s office nunc Architectes Bretagne, the 2,460 m2 building is located along rue de Bretagne, at the most influential position for the structure of the district. “By combining all the town’s sports facilities, we were able to recreate a strong statement at this location with this street running through it and with its disparate buildings, which formed an irregular picture,” explained the architect Pierre Béout who chose to install the multi-sport hall parallel to the street. The project comprises two buildings: the large 12 m high sports hall whose scale holds its own against the vast surrounding landscape. Facing north-northeast, it provides space for different disciplines (basketball, volleyball, handball, etc.). A second volume oriented towards the roadside with a ground floor only 4.50 m in height is matched to the pedestrian’s scale. At its western corner it forms a large sheltered square, with entrances for the sportsmen and the public. These entrances lead to the other facilities of the complex: changing rooms, meeting rooms, a training room, an activity room and a club house.
The football club's changing rooms are accessible directly from the outside, at the northwest side of the premises and directly connected to the football pitches. The stands with over 250 seats are raised for a better view of the pitch. This also allows a more compact construction by locating various elements such as storage, utility and changing rooms below the concrete stands. Another special feature is that the details and choice of the components were defined and dimensioned entirely by thermodynamic simulation. “We simulated the actual needs at a time T according to the use scenarios, dimensions and orientation of the bays, etc.”, explained Pierre Béout. “We do not see the energy regulation RT2012 as a working tool, but as a specifications scheme. The aim is to go beyond the requirements.”
Northeast orientation of the glass façade provides natural light
Thanks to the large north/east facing WICONA glass façade which provides good brightness, this rather simple arrangement allows natural light to enter all rooms, especially the sports area. This quest for transparency was indeed a key element, as the architect Pierre Béout explains. “The environmental objectives were twofold: low energy consumption on the one hand, which is why natural light and the integration of renewable energy sources were given priority. On the other hand, the choice of green materials from local sources to limit emissions. All in all, our main focus was both on energy consumption and the carbon footprint of the building. It is precisely these framework conditions that allow this project to qualify for the E+/C- reference system. The façades and frame profiles are essential elements because they contribute to both thermal comfort and sound insulation.”
The two materials used for the structure were concrete and wood (from Brittany). Concrete was used mainly for the changing rooms and high-humidity areas such as the showers. Wood was used as a superstructure. Glulam beams 30 m long and 1.70 m high cross the large multi-sport hall which is fully glazed on the north side, offering a clear view of the game, the football field and the sea on the horizon. “The idea was to stage the match,” stated the nunc architect.
“This large timber supporting structure rests on a façade which we wanted to design to be as light as possible. The horizontal glue-laminated cross members are suspended from the supporting structure in such a way that they are flat and do not obstruct the view. We wanted to give the impression of being inside and outside at the same time. The supporting construction of the WICONA curtain wall was mounted onto these cross beams and columns,” Pierre Béout explained.
The WICTEC 50 (RAL 7015) aluminium curtain wall system was chosen on the advice of Fraboulet, the company that installed the WICONA solutions. The glazed façade is 44 m long and 12 m high. It consists of 21 panels of 2,570 mm length x 12 m height, which are intersected 6 times with one special feature on the fourth level, namely the installation of a BMS controlled ventilation unit in the WICONA curtain wall.
The glazing required special attention. “WICONA carried out special mechanical calculations for the façade taking into account the anticipated snow and wind loads in Langueux. Ball impacts also had to be factored in. We opted for highly resistant double glazing of high thermal insulation,” said Gwénaël Jouéo, project and research manager at Fraboulet.
A total of 92 glass units, each weighing 350 kg, were installed by the company using a 40 tonne crane equipped with special suction cups to lift these large glass panels. The WICONA façade comprises a total of 25 tonnes of glazing (grade Rglass THERM One from Riou Glass). “The installation of this façade, with the noteworthy task of lifting such large glass units, was a great technical challenge, which mobilised all the teams of Fraboulet. I believe that installing a curtain wall of this size is a first in Central Brittany. A lot of people stop in front of this building.”
For the south-facing façade of the central building exposed to the most sun and located opposite the glazed curtain wall overlooking the football field, WICONA's MECANO solution with continuous fixing to a 52 mm narrow supporting construction was chosen. Installed above the stands and forming a horizontal strip extending along the entire length of the building (44 m long x 1 m high), the MECANO aluminium façade with its solar control glazing not only ensures energy management but also filters the transmission of energy into the building to both improve thermal insulation and reduce its energy consumption.
Eco design
The project favours wood and short routes. For energy production, 300 m2 of photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof with an annual production of 44,000 kWh, covering the entire energy demand of the building. The electricity stored in batteries compensates the night-time energy consumption. The surplus is used for supplying the neighbouring communal buildings. In this spirit of sharing, the municipality took advantage of the associated road works to collect rainwater from all the municipal buildings in this area. In addition to the existing 50 m3 capacity, another 188 m3 are used for watering the football fields and supplying the sanitary facilities of the sports hall and adjacent buildings (utility building, sports facilities, etc.).
WICLINE 115 AFS: first installation in France
Another special feature is that the multi-sport hall in Langueux is the first building in France to be equipped with WICONA’s WICLINE 115 AFS coupled window system. “We initially opted for the R’PURE coupled window system. It was the company Fraboulet, the best bidder on this project, who proposed the use of the latest innovation of this manufacturer to fulfil the high requirements for sound and thermal insulation and solar shading: the WICLINE 115 AFS coupled window,” explained the architect Pierre Béout.
“This is a very interesting product that responds to the specific climatic conditions of our coastal region, which is very exposed to the wind. Due to the south orientation of the façade, solar shading was essential to prevent the building from overheating, and the glazing also needs to be easy to clean. This window system is a good solution as it combines double glazing with a separate air cavity featuring a motorised integrated blind which is easily accessible via a coupled service sash that can be opened separately. The system protects the blind, reduces soiling and facilitates maintenance The frame can be opened to access the blind without having to remove the glazing beads,” added Pierre Béout.
These coupled windows were installed by the company Fraboulet for the first time, “which has both the technology and the expertise for such types of window,” the architect stressed,adding, “It is an exceptional company that is always keen to find effective solutions with an interesting manufacturing quality.
A total of 24 WICLINE 115 AFS coupled windows measuring 1,200 x 2,500 mm were installed in the south façade for the club rooms and the training room. The windows control the temperature of the building and feature motorised blinds connected to the building’s BMS to reduce solar gain. Another important point was the high sound insulation of the glazing in view of the noise in the rue de Bretagne.
Although coupled window systems are not new to Fraboulet, the company having already gained experience with the R’PURE system on various sites in Central Brittany, this first installation was an opportunity to verify the extreme precision required for their production and installation. The Fraboulet teams were supported by WICONA: training at the French headquarters at Courmelles, production of a prototype, and communication and collaboration between WICONA’s technical experts and the Fraboulet design office on the installation method approved by APAVE, an independent inspection body.
Gwénaël Jouéo explained further: “This project is one of the most iconic that Fraboulet has carried out and required very careful handling. The innovative and pioneering character, which is quite uncommon for sports complexes, deserves to be highlighted.Its design reflects the future-oriented spirit of the town and the nunc architectural firm. They agreed to follow our recommendations for a high-performance and comfortable building, an attitude that has been a real driving force. All the teams participated in the project, with a total of up to six people involved.”
Other WICONA solutions can be seen on the façade, the glazed roof and in various rooms:
- Four WICSTYLE 65 doors of 1,950 x 2,100 mm with fanlight and fixed sidelights.
- A large WICSLIDE 160 lift and slide door, composed of 3 panels each of 6 m width x 3 m height.
- A 5 m x 4 m WICTEC 50 glazed roof installed over the building’s exterior terrace.c
Passive house building
"The result is all the more satisfying as it continues to be confirmed by the interest of the public. It feels as though the building has always been there," emphasised the property manager in charge with a smile. Other reasons for satisfaction are the successful integration of the multi-sport hall, the efficiency of the thermal insulation and ventilation plus the energy demand at passive house level. The results obtained for the air changes from the N50 air permeability tests far exceed the requirements of the passive house standard (0.60 m3/h at 50 Pascal).
