ECLA Coliving Residence
Renovation in Archamps (74)

Transformation of old offices into a modern residence, mixed wood-concrete-metal

In Archamps, Haute-Savoie, an old office building is undergoing a spectacular transformation. This large-scale project gives rise to an ECLA coliving residence with 796 beds, designed for students and young professionals. More than just a change of use, this is a true mixed wood-concrete-metal rehabilitation project, where our teams have mobilized all their expertise to serve a new way of living.

Rubner, a central player in an ambitious transformation

Giving a second life to offices by transforming unused workspaces into a modern residence for students and young professionals… At Rubner, we enjoy taking on this type of specific challenge, committed to the future with innovative and sustainable wood construction solutions.

Discover the key points of our intervention as the representative of the envelope group:

Technical design: An in-depth study phase was conducted in advance with our co-contractors APC Etanche and Les Zelles to anticipate every constraint of the site and ensure smooth execution.
Prefabrication and installation: 10,200 m² of wood-framed facades were installed, of which 8,500 m² were prefabricated in our workshop in Île-de-France. This factory prefabrication allowed for quick and precise lifting on-site.
Deadline management: Despite the inherent complexity of any rehabilitation, the project is on schedule, demonstrating unwavering collective commitment.

Tackling the challenges of sustainable rehabilitation

Transforming an existing building means dealing with the unpredictable, technical constraints, and energy performance requirements. Here, the challenge was twofold:

Reinventing use by transforming underutilized tertiary spaces into modern living areas.
Improving the thermal envelope with new high-performance facades, which will ensure better energy efficiency in the long term.

This choice of rehabilitation, rather than new construction, helps preserve resources, limit construction waste, and enhance already urbanized land. An approach aligned with the sustainable development goals we advocate at Rubner.