The good points of low-carbon concrete in Toulouse
Credit Cemex – Guilhermy
By the editor, September 8, 2022.
The Departmental Council of Haute-Garonne has built a new college to accommodate 600 students from September 2022, in the Guilhermy district. Cemex delivered all the low-carbon concrete required for the construction of this positive-energy building, designed according to the HQE approach.
Its production units Since located in Larrieu, Cemex delivered 6,000 m3 of low-carbon concrete between March 2021 and January 2022. The design office chose Vertua classic concrete with a carbon weight of less than 200 kg /m3. These concretes were used to make the foundations, floors and walls of the building. Concrete pumps made it possible to facilitate the implementation of the material and to respond to the technical particularities of implementation, in particular for curved walls and high concrete.
The choice of low carbon concrete
Right from the project study phase, the TPF Ingénierie design office proposed a low-carbon concrete solution to the contracting authority in order to limit the building’s carbon footprint. ” The structure being entirely designed in reinforced concrete, the use of low-carbon concrete seemed the most appropriate solution. », indicates Naomi Roussel, structural design engineer. This low-carbon project was the Toulouse agency’s first substantial one and the feedback has been positive. Once the added value of low carbon has been added, the technical solution is in all respects similar to conventional concrete and therefore easy to integrate into a project. confirms Naomi Roussel.
A strong architectural bias
The client has valued a strong architectural bias combining both environmental sounding and modern expression around concrete and terracotta. Aware of the societal demands made by the Departmental Council of Haute-Garonne, the firm REC Architecture has imagined a college integrating an image of solidity and control to best accommodate future college students. ” The institutional expression of the college is affirmed thanks to the concrete and its massiveness. The curves as well as the shadows cast by the overhangs represent a contemporary and minimalist architecture which dialogues with its environment. », specifies Olivier Bescond, associate architect, « sn this project, we wanted to express a form of massiveness and lightness with a minimalist and curved expression while ensuring good thermal protection and sealing against the outside air. Concrete meets all these constraints “. For REC Architecture, this experience is the first around low-carbon concrete. ” These concretes are still new and know-how remains to be acquired, even if the rendering for this project is very satisfactory and meets the specifications. », continues Olivier Bescond before concluding « We will continue to make the most of this noble material. Its development must align with the environmental aspirations of our society, find solutions to limit its carbon footprint and sustain its assets, which allow us to achieve our architectural ambitions. “. The production of curved walls in low-carbon concrete, a first for SEG Fayat, in charge of the structural work, generated some concern upstream. ” Finally U.S were pleasantly surprised by the formulation and the quality of the rendering of the concretes. We have not returned any mixer trucks or broken sails due to poor concrete quality », notes Lilian Bessac, principal works engineer. Concrete orders were placed with the ReadymixGo application, which allows customers to order and track their concrete deliveries from a smartphone. ” This tool is very practical for ordering our materials, but also for managing information and documents related to our orders. “, he adds.