Olympic Games 2024: Reversible R+4 Composite Timber/Concrete Building in Saint-Denis, France

The 5-story building in the lot PB6 comprises 37 apartments with an estimated floor area of 3,000 m² (32,292 ft²). The design specifications prescribe the principles of sustainability and a reduced carbon footprint, with particular attention to the materials and construction methods utilized. The design of the project is intended to be reversible, mixed-use, and ecologically friendly. As with other project lots, it will be subject to two operating phases.

The "Empreinte" phase, scheduled for the 2024 sporting competitions, will accommodate 2,700 athletes and officials, in addition to offices, storage space, and meeting rooms.

The "Heritage" phase, commencing in 2025, will then transform the site into a residential area encompassing housing, economic, and commercial activities, as well as public facilities.

This PB6 lot features high-quality materials, particularly timber. The five-story building (R+4) comprises a concrete base on the ground floor and four upper floors made of timber, with concrete stairwells and elevators ensuring the stability.

The structural solution of 2D prefabricated elements, such as timber frame walls, timber floors, and a composite timber/concrete roof slab, contributed significantly to optimizing the construction time and reducing delays, and minimized the environmental impact of the construction site.

The design was entirely carried out using BIM technology, including a 3D model of RFEM. The software enabled the implementation of a load descent and the comprehensive analysis of the overall behavior of the composite timber/concrete structure and each prefabricated element on an individual basis. They were designed in the RFEM add-on modules.

Kerto LVL products for Kerto-Ripa caissons, supplied by Metsä Wood, are suitable for prefabrication in 2.40m (7.87-foot)-wide formats, facilitating the transport and assembly. They meet the constraints of large permanent loads and building reversibility, with removable partitions for the temporary accommodation of athletes. The Kerto-Ripa boxes allows for a timber structure with a height of 320 mm (12.6 in) and a span length of 5.80 m (19 ft).

Dlubal Software and the expertise of the Gustave engineering office supported the selection of materials and optimized prefabrication. This project represents an exemplary solution for the 2024 Games and beyond, in line with the carbon neutrality and climate resilience objectives of the city of Paris and Solideo.