The Clémence Royer hall of residence reflects the consensus between the property developer and the planning authority to build a more sustainable city, helping provide accommodation for all:

– Open up the district of Le Luzard

– Expand the diversity of functional uses in the urban area

– Lead by example in terms of environmental responsibility.

This 6-storey, entirely timber-structured building was one of the first 15 buildings to secure France’s BBCA (low-carbon building) label when this particular certification came into force in March 2016.

The building is also H&E certified (the French Habitat & Environment scheme) under profile A**.

This student hall of residence is a real blend of the social and environmental, and also demonstrates the need to seek out innovative solutions in terms of both design and construction, in this case combining re-use of the existing foundations with the use of CLT panels.

Covering 6,302 m², the hall of residence comprises 230 student rooms over six floors, premises for the hall warden, a lodge for the caretaker, a common room and various other areas (laundry room, a bins area, etc.).

Students live in well-equipped, furnished studios averaging 20 m² in size.

The warden’s and caretaker’s premises are also furnished (bed, desk, table, shelves, lights) and fitted with a kitchenette with a fridge and hobs.

The development has an environmental focus, in its construction and operational phases alike.

Sustainable construction

By re-using the foundations of a factory previously on the site, the project was designed to be low-carbon from the outset, with no waste produced by demolition. Making use of the existing structure avoided generating CO₂ from building new foundations.

CLT panels to store carbon

The timber panels were prefabricated, built and assembled in a factory then erected on the site of the building. This enabled the construction duration to be remarkably short, and the carbon footprint unusually small, with reduced disruption to nearby residents. This lightweight, durable solution, 100% recyclable, offers students highly effective soundproofing and heat insulation.

Operational efficiency

The development is H&E certified (the French Habitat & Environment scheme) under profile A as per the 2012 version of the benchmarks, updated in March 2014.

In terms of energy performance, the target for the development was to match the level of the RT2012 French energy regulation standard minus 10% within the meaning of the H&E standard for the accommodation, and RT2012 minus 10% for the building as a whole. To be eligible for Ile-de-France regional subsidies, the hall of residence also had to source a minimum of 30% of its heating and domestic hot water requirements from renewable energy via the Soraya system.

Electricity supply options:

The site on which the hall of residence is built has no gas supply. A combination of effective electricity supply systems therefore had to be considered. The energy supply feasibility study showed the most appropriate option to be a heat pump using heat from the CMV system’s exhaust air to produce domestic hot water. The heating, meanwhile, is provided by heating panels, which have the advantage of bringing immediate comfort and being individually controlled for each room. Thanks to the effectiveness of the lagging (bioclimatic needs at less than half the regulatory maximum), this combination of systems means the building reaches the RT2012-10% target level.

Smart services for students

Various services are provided to students, including a smart laundry. A smartphone app allows students to see whether washing machines are available without leaving their room, and to be notified when their washing cycle has finished. In addition, the common room allows students to network, and can be used for co-working. The hall benefits from the presence of a hall warden, who lives on-site, and deals with individual requests from the students. Lastly, students are offered a car-sharing service, in partnership with Glide. Two vehicles are available, booked and used solely by means of an app.