Lorillard Building, synonymous with excellence for the 4 IGH towers in Lambersart

They embody an architectural beacon in the urban landscape, clearly identifying this district as a major landmark. In 2007, an ambitious urban renovation program was launched, affecting public infrastructure, roads, and residences. This program's mission is to shape a new face for this neighborhood. However, despite the ongoing transformations, the four emblematic towers, which house no less than 244 housing units, had until now remained unchanged. Owned by social landlord Vilogia, they impatiently awaited their renovation. A partnership then emerged, bringing together the city and the lessor, with the aim of improving the comfort of aging housing, strengthening the security of buildings, and improving their thermal insulation to reduce their energy consumption. This project is part of an approach aimed at modernizing and revitalizing these architectural icons, while preserving their central role in the social and multicultural life of the neighborhood.

In order to effectively orchestrate this program, which began in spring 2021 and is still in progress, Vilogia mobilized a group composed of a design office, Nortec Ingénierie, two architectural firms, Atelier 204 Architectes and NVW Architectes, a coordinating company, as well as a social pilot from Interfaces. In particular, a single company, ISORE, was responsible for overall management, working in co-contracting with the Lorillard Bâtiment entity and thus bringing together all the professionals necessary to carry out this ambitious project.

Modernization and security

The building renovation work includes exterior thermal insulation, insulation of the basement slab, repair of the insulation and waterproofing of the top floor, as well as the replacement of exterior joinery and roller shutters on the ground floor. The loggia railings were replaced and the balconies on floors 10 to 15 demolished. The entrance halls will be transformed into more welcoming and bright spaces and the common areas will benefit from a complete renovation. PRM accommodation has been set up on the ground floor. In the apartments, the work includes replacing doors, updating sanitary equipment, painting kitchens, bathrooms and toilets, renovating floors, updating controlled mechanical ventilation (VMC), installing to electrical standards and replacement of the intercom. Outside, bicycle shelters will be installed and terminals for selective waste sorting will be put in place, aligning these residences with the improvements made in the rest of the neighborhood.

A distinct visual signature

The architects and the landlord undertook to give each tower a distinctive identity, taking into account its geographical position within the district. The objective is to visually set each of them apart while attenuating their previous massive appearance. While maintaining overall consistency, the use of sober and durable materials such as white ceramic, stainless steel metal cladding, and “Champagne” colored metal cladding was favored. The Mésanges tower is distinguished by a rhythmic facade with a white grid on a champagne background. The Fauvettes tower is dominated by white ceramic, punctuated by floors in stainless steel metal cladding. The Roitelets tower favors a predominance of white ceramic decorated with imposing vertical lines, while the last two floors stand out with Champagne cladding, lightening the structure. As for the Cigognes tower, it presents an architectural rhythm marked by horizontal sections, alternating white ceramic and Champagne metal cladding. For each tower, a variation in the rhythm of the frames was introduced, with a reduction in the size of the bedroom frames and an enhancement of the living room frames, thus contributing to an overall aesthetic reinterpretation of the facades.

Three specific colors

Although these towers initially presented uniformity in terms of orientation, compartmentalization and design, the architects' renovation project introduced remarkable diversity, particularly through the typology of the joinery. To do this, three shades of joinery (classification A3 E7b V*B2) were carefully selected in order to harmonize with the color nuances of the project and to mark a significant aesthetic contrast: white PVC joinery, PVC joinery with brushed aluminum gray 1049L veneer, and PVC joinery with champagne veneer SMOOTH 2. These choices are not limited to aesthetic considerations; they also attest to Lorillard Bâtiment’s ability to individualize and improve a project, while meeting specific technical challenges. The implementation of these specific platings required rigorous and anticipated management of profile supplies in the Lorillard workshops. This step involved not only guaranteeing the availability of the necessary materials but also adapting to industrial manufacturing deadlines, adding additional complexity to project management.

The expertise of BE Lorillard

The Lorillard design office took the side of an in-depth study from the design to the finalization of the four towers project, before obtaining the various approvals from ISORE, the architects, and the control office , among others. The project faced significant constraints, particularly those related to the alignments required during installation, due to the diversity of materials used by ISORE. The facades, made of different types of materials, complicated the integration of the frames, requiring detailed work on AutoCAD for the creation of precise alignment plans by the Lorillard design office. Their role was crucial in ensuring the exact alignment of the joinery elements in the different facade modules, thus respecting architectural requirements.

For Loïc Flament, Lorillard Building Works Manager: « The technical implementation plans developed by the Lorillard design office played a key role in the intervention of the ISORE company. These detailed documents not only facilitated the implementation of specific joinery but also served as a guide for ISORE in the integration of the different facade insulation modules. »

This technical collaboration enabled efficient and precise implementation of insulation solutions, ensuring consistency with the aesthetic and functional requirements of the project. A synergy of professions that Lorillard Bâtiment cultivates on all of these projects, whether with Group brands or with external companies.

Precision and coordination for outdoor nude poses

The process of installing the 1600 PVC joinery units (Uw ≤ 1,3 W/k.m²) in the four towers began strategically, with the installation of steel and wood support structures, as well as exterior pre-frames. . This method was made necessary because of the presence of asbestos in the joints of old wooden joinery, thus eliminating the possibility of traditional renovation. ISORE Bâtiment provided Lorillard with nacelles on masts, facilitating access and installation of elements on the facades. The pooling of resources is another aspect of the site synergy supported by the Lorillard site teams. Before installing the frames, careful preparatory work was carried out to put in place the steel rails which form the pre-frames, thus ensuring their perfect seal from the outside. At this stage, only the frames have been installed, the joinery was not yet equipped with its openings. To guarantee the precise alignment of all the carpentry elements, laser tracing was carried out, making it possible to respect the required alignments on each facade.

For Loïc Flament: « This delicate operation required rigorous coordination and attention to detail, requiring the assignment of a Site Manager specifically responsible for monitoring and transmitting the alignment data for each facade. This process ensured that each stage of installation was carefully followed and aligned, ensuring uniformity and precision across the various joinery works on the tower facades. »

To ensure compliance with the deadlines imposed by the construction schedule, an effective strategy was put in place: up to three teams, each made up of four qualified people, were assigned simultaneously to the nacelles. This organization allowed a significant increase in productivity, with several teams working simultaneously on the facades. This approach not only accelerated the pace of operations, but also made it possible to maximize the use of available human resources, thereby ensuring that the construction site progressed efficiently and within planned deadlines. Lorillard Bâtiment demonstrated careful planning and impeccable coordination to integrate these constraints into the overall project schedule, without compromising delivery deadlines.

Expertized interior installation

Then, the intervention focused on interior spaces, in occupied environments, a familiar situation for Lorillard Bâtiment and which is notably one of their specialties. Specific measures were taken for the dismantling of the old PVC joinery and their evacuation, as well as the installation of the new openings. To manage the waste, it was necessary to use 19 30 m3 skips, allowing the recovery of 80,69 tonnes of materials. The process of recycling and valorization of PVC materials was established on Lorillard construction sites well before the implementation of the EPR. The works teams have real site environmental management reflexes. Interior fits and finishes, including the fitting of the white PVC splays, were also taken care of. The installation of the leaves and glazing was carried out with care. All joinery is designed in a tilt-and-turn manner to offer occupants optimal ventilation of the rooms, thus adding additional comfort of use. Note that reinforced acoustic insulation (33 dB) was specifically put in place for the facade of the Cigognes tower, located near a main road. Another major concern has been the management of fire safety standards for these 15-storey IGH buildings (High Rise Buildings). To meet this requirement, Lorillard innovated by designing steel plates at least one meter high, combined with rock wool insulation, intended to equip the spandrels. These plates, fixed to the masonry, cover the old sill and guarantee the necessary distance to prevent the spread of fire between dwellings.

Air permeability tests were carried out during the works, confirming compliance with waterproofing requirements. Thanks to several self-checks carried out on the facades and inside the accommodation before the operations prior to reception, the number of reservations issued was minimized.

In total, 480 champagne veneered joinery, 124 stainless steel veneered joinery and 996 white joinery were carefully installed, including/including 112 balcony French doors. The accommodations located on the ground floor, specifically designed for people with reduced mobility (PRM), have been equipped with motorized frames and motorized roller shutters, connected to a home automation system, as have some accommodations located on the first floor (R+1), depending on the configuration of each tower.

Lorillard Bâtiment stands out in the rehabilitation sector for its exceptional site management and notable professionalism, qualities eminently visible in the context of the renovation of the four emblematic towers of the Pacot-Vandracq district in Lambersart. This level of professionalism and expertise in site management reflects Lorillard Building's commitment to providing tailor-made solutions, adapted to the specific requirements of each project. Their approach, both pragmatic and innovative, not only ensures that deadlines and the highest quality standards are met but also enriches the architectural heritage with distinctive and lasting achievements. The renovation of the Lambersart towers is an eloquent testimony to their ability to transform initially homogeneous structures into unique emblems of modernity and innovation, making each building a flagship element of the urban landscape.