French architecture studio Coldefy, working in collaboration with Relief Architecture, has successfully completed the Robert Badinter Secondary School, marking a significant milestone as the first timber-framed educational facility in northern France. The innovative 650-pupil school represents a groundbreaking approach to sustainable educational architecture in the region.
The new educational complex is strategically positioned on a former railway yard site, located adjacent to the city's main train station and within a convenient ten-minute walking distance from the town center. This prime location was deliberately chosen as part of a comprehensive urban renewal initiative aimed at creating a consolidated public transportation hub enhanced by vibrant civic amenities and community spaces.
The construction project faced unique geological challenges due to the site's historical significance and underground conditions. Located on the former site of the city's Vauban fortifications moat, the area also contained 'catiches' - subterranean chalk quarries that are characteristic of the region's geological history. These underground cavities required careful attention and had to be completely filled in to stabilize the ground before any construction work could begin.
The architectural design emphasizes sustainable building practices through its innovative use of timber framing, setting a new precedent for educational architecture in northern France. The school's design not only serves the educational needs of its 650 students but also contributes to the broader urban development goals of creating a more integrated and accessible community infrastructure around the transportation hub.
