| City, Country | Gif-sur-Yvette, France | |
| Year | 2012–2017 | |
| Client | Établissement Public Paris Saclay, École Centrale | |
| Architect | OMA Office for Metropolitan Architecture | |
| Services | Structural Engineering Façade Engineering |
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| Facts | NFA: 48,000 m² | Certificate: HQE | |
The Ecole Centrale project is part of the ambitious development of the Saclay Plateau. The first of two buildings (70,000 m² of total surface) consists of a large hall of about 40,000 m² (127 x 159 metres and 14 metres high), including different spaces responding to various programmatic requests and an underground parking level.
Emerging from the hall, a five-level high bloc (81 x 65 metres) welcomes auditoriums, classrooms, a gym and the administration centre. The hall allows free use of the interior space, giving great flexibility to the building.
Solid construction with wide-span roof structure and ground floor. Walls of prefabricated elements with flat concrete ceilings and their floors with lightweight construction.
Further flexibility for implementing the different functions under the performing skin is obtained by implementing fixed chimneys at regular intervals (24 x 24 metres). These chimneys are made of prestressed concrete columns and provide vertical and horizontal stability. Double rectangular beams in prestressed precast concrete support a secondary structure on which the ETFE cushions are placed.
