Intechmer renovation and extension: the new building is rising from the ground

Christèle CASTELEIN, President of the Cotentin Agglomeration, accompanied by Nicole BELLIOT-DELACOUR, Vice-President in charge of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Manuela MAHIER, Vice-President in charge of the Sea, Nautical Activities and the Promotion of the Cotentin, Dominique HÉBERT, President of the Territorial Commission of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Benoît ARRIVÉ, Mayor of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Gilbert LEPOITTEVIN, Deputy Mayor of Tourlaville and Florian CESBRON, Director of Intechmer, presented the progress of the renovation and extension work of Intechmer in the presence of the Titan architectural firm and the companies involved in the project.

Intechmer trains technical managers and bachelors in oceanography with courses in marine resource production and development, marine environmental engineering, and marine research and exploration. Since its opening in 1981, the institute has seen more than 1.500 students pass through its doors.

In order to establish the institution as a center of excellence for training and to promote the emergence of new innovative professional sectors, the Cotentin Agglomeration launched a major renovation and extension project for the Intechmer buildings in March 2024.

This project includes the renovation of the original building, constructed in 1981 and designed by architect Jacques Rougerie, as well as the construction of a new building. Rectangular and elongated with a single ground floor, this 2.240 m² building will reinforce the strong image of the existing structure through its architectural contrast.

According to Christèle CASTELEIN, President of the Agglomeration: “The Intechmer renovation and expansion project lies at the crossroads of several major objectives for the Agglomeration. It is also particularly representative of our actions, as it concerns the only Higher Education building for which the Cotentin Agglomeration is the project owner. Enabling Intechmer to establish itself as a center of excellence for training programs, offering innovative professional pathways, is fully aligned with our objective of expanding the reach of our campus. To strengthen our appeal to students, we must capitalize on our strengths, and this institution is a prime example. Furthermore, having an institute whose maritime training programs are recognized throughout Europe fits perfectly with the promotion of our maritime identity, which we aim to amplify through our ‘Terre Bleue le Cotentin’ strategy.” As awareness grows regarding the importance of the ocean for our future, training the future technicians who will have to deal with these issues is crucial for the region. Finally, this project is a continuation of actions taken to address climate challenges. The innovations being implemented in the reuse of marine waste and the reduction of natural resource extraction send a positive message for the new life of this site.

According to Nicole BELLIOT-DELACOURT, Vice-President in charge of Higher Education: “The renovation and expansion of Intechmer is part of the Campus development led by the Agglomeration. The goal is to make this site a key hub of the future university campus. The Collignon-Intechmer center will allow us to create a unique offering centered around nautical activities. The aim is to leverage the existing nautical ecosystem to create a true student hub for sports and the sea. Integrating nautical activities into the student experience will help to highlight the distinctive character of the Cotentin student destination and thus make it a key factor in attracting students to the Campus.”

The new building has risen from the ground

As a reminder, this renovation and expansion project is taking place in two phases. The first phase consists of the construction of the new building, which is scheduled for delivery in spring 2026. The renovation of Intechmer's original building will then begin.

The ongoing construction project is revealing the outline of the future building. The old Building D, which no longer met current standards, has been demolished, and the greenhouse has been relocated to make way for the new structure. The structural work has progressed sufficiently to allow for the installation of the framework, exterior joinery, and roofing. The first section of the building will be weather-tight this summer, enabling the interior fit-out to begin.

As a reminder, this will host:

• a reception area with an amphitheater, coworking space and a library;
• offices of teaching and research staff and administrative staff;
• theoretical teaching rooms;
• research and practical teaching laboratories;
• technical and support facilities;
• a cafeteria;
• the boiler room on energy piles.

Moreover, since the start of the works in March 2024, the face of the site has already changed.

To the northeast of the site, a body of water has been recreated as part of the landscape project designed by Sempervirens. Allowing for the management of rainwater, this wetland also aims to restore the ecological richness of the site and bring it closer to its original state: a former marsh.

The body of water is thus attracting many birds, insects and amphibians back to the site.

Innovative concretes

For this exceptional project, the Agglomeration sought to innovate and make Intechmer a showcase for sustainable construction. In the new building, the student amphitheater will feature walls with a striking characteristic: their structural concrete incorporates scallop shells.

In total, 19 tons of scallop shells were repurposed, rather than buried, thanks to their reuse in the walls of this building. Thirty percent of the concrete aggregates were replaced by scallop shells, representing 16% of the total concrete used in the amphitheater walls. Furthermore, the panel designs are intentionally symbolic, drawing attention to the use of shells in the building. This amphitheater serves as a showcase for the reuse and valorization of marine-related waste, linking the site's location to Intechmer's research and teaching focus.

Until now, seashells were used in road construction projects or decorative cladding; this innovation opens a new avenue by demonstrating that they can replace aggregates in structural concrete. It took 18 months of testing and calculations to prove the quality of the concrete and to obtain authorization from the Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB) to use these experimental concretes in the load-bearing walls of the amphitheater.

Furthermore, the project has led to the development of other innovations:

• Geothermal piles:

Due to the unstable nature of the soil, the building's construction required the installation of piles. The decision was made to install geothermal probes within the piles, allowing the project to take advantage of this constraint and thus harness the heat from the soil of the former marsh.

• Biobased materials

Approval was granted for the use of wood fiber insulation for the roof. This bio-based material avoids the need for petrochemical-derived materials.

Finally, with the aim of limiting construction-related waste and reducing the production of new objects and materials, deconstruction materials were reused to promote the circular economy. Some materials were reused directly in the project, while others were carefully dismantled to be made available for other construction sites.

• reuse of concrete from the demolished building for road structures
• reuse of light fixtures and emergency lighting
• reuse of plumbing equipment
• upgrading of steel sheet cladding
• upgrading the structure of the bicycle shelter and the greenhouse

In total, 450 tonnes of materials will be reused on site and 6 tonnes will be reused off site.

A project exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale

As a reminder, Intechmer's renovation and extension project was selected for display in the French Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, notably due to its innovative techniques. This year's theme is "Living With," an exhibition that explores the role of architecture in the face of contemporary transformations in our world, marked by ecological, climatic, and social upheavals. It showcases architectural projects that respond to the challenges of building within constraints.

Key figures

• A new building of 2.240m2;
• 19 tonnes of scallops repurposed;
• 450 tonnes of materials reused on site;
• 6 tonnes of materials reused off-site.

The budget

• The Cotentin peninsula: €11 million excluding VAT
• Normandy Region: €2,7M excluding VAT
• Department: €2M excluding VAT
• State: €1,6 million excluding VAT
• Total: €17,2M excluding VAT