SPP's ID4 amount confirms its legitimacy on large-scale construction sites with the restructuring of the Loubet Tower in Saint-Étienne

This multi-use project, combining offices, municipal services and housing, will bring life back to an emblematic site of Saint-Étienne.

To successfully complete this restructuring, the project is relying on innovative construction solutions, such as the ID4 upright developed by SPP. A French specialist in construction systems for interior design, SPP provides a technical response to the speed and performance requirements of this 22.000 m² project. The first solution on the market to offer a double upright with doubled inertia, a 50% installation time saving and acoustic insulation awarded a Décibel d'Or in 2024 (from 1 to 9 dB of sound reduction depending on the thickness of the panel); the ID4 upright was specifically specified for the restructuring of the floors intended for housing.

Already proven on several major construction sites, the ID4 amount is now essential, according to the installation company Chanel Rénovation, as a key element to ensure compliance with deadlines and the quality of implementation of the Loubet site, whose delivery is scheduled for September 2026.

The Loubet Tower: a construction site at the great height of a Saint-Etienne symbol

Essential urban rehabilitation for the neighborhood

Former headquarters of the CAF, Urssaf and CPAM, the Loubet Tower, better known as the “Sécu building”, has remained unoccupied since 2018.

Its conversion is part of a vast urban rehabilitation program with a total budget of 56 million euros, including 10 million euros dedicated to asbestos removal and cleaning.

With its 14 levels, 22.000 m² of floor space and 3.000 m² of underground parking, this high-rise building, built in 1971, presented many challenges: dilapidation, presence of asbestos, high energy consumption.

Sold for a symbolic euro to Epora (Public Land Establishment of West Rhône-Alpes), it had to be rehabilitated to avoid further deterioration of the city center.

After extensive studies, a major renovation was preferred to demolition and reconstruction, which was deemed too costly and would have a negative impact on the neighborhood. A forecourt was created to downgrade the building to a non-high-rise building, a key condition of the project.

Offices, housing and services: the Loubet Tower is reinventing itself

After a phase of asbestos removal and extensive cleaning, the rehabilitation, which began in July 2024 and is scheduled to continue until September 2026, is being carried out by two project owners: Epase (Saint-Étienne Public Development Establishment) and Habitat & Métropole.
Habitat & Métropole, the leading housing operator in the Saint-Étienne metropolitan area, will occupy eight levels of the tower, including six for its head office and two for its regional agency.
Three levels will be dedicated to 51 apartments for students and young workers.

The City of Saint-Étienne, for its part, will invest 9.000 m to install several municipal services: archives, municipal police and crisis headquarters, as well as a heritage and cultural center including a film library and a memorial to the Resistance and Deportation.

SPP's ID4 amount: a technical solution that accelerates the restructuring of the Loubet tower

Chanel Rénovation, responsible for the insulation, plastering, and painting work, chose the ID4 for its speed of execution while guaranteeing impeccable quality and a safe working environment for its 15-person team. A member of the Profil'Experts club since September 2024, Chanel Rénovation benefited from the support and technical expertise of Clément Paillasson, Sales Manager at SPP.

The Double Inertia Retractable Post for 4 applications (ID4) offers fast, no-cut assembly thanks to its splicable design. Its "I" profile with reinforced flanges provides twice the rigidity of a standard post, eliminating the need to assemble two screwed posts.

Its use on the three floors requiring the doubling of conventional uprights has allowed a 50% reduction in installation time. The elimination of cutting with an angle grinder limits the risk of accidents and guarantees a safer working environment and better continuity of work.

A single reference for simplified logistics

One of the major advantages of the ID4 upright lies in its splicable design, allowing you to order a single reference of a length adaptable to different ceiling heights.

"This system allows for the use of an H-shaped bar that unfolds from 2 to 3 meters," explains Clément Paillasson. This flexibility reduces ordering errors and facilitates supply management, a valuable advantage on a constrained urban site like the Loubet Tower.

The ID4, award-winning sound insulation

Thanks to its double inertia, the ID4 upright guarantees exceptional acoustic performance with an acoustic attenuation of 1 to 9. The three floors of housing, ranging from studios to T2s, will thus offer optimal sound comfort, surpassing the acoustic requirements of Habitat & Métropole.

The ID4 amount was awarded the 2024 Golden Decibel from the National Noise Council (CNB) in the “Acoustic Materials and Construction Systems” category.

35.000 linear meters of SPP frames for this exceptional project

The entire construction site is installed in SPP frames with 35.000 linear meters of profiles including furring strips, rails, angles and uprights of 36, 62, 70 and 90.
Among them, 6.500 linear meters of ID4 48 spliced ​​uprights were used on the three floors dedicated to student accommodation.

For Alexandre Fine, Site Manager at Chanel Rénovation: "The integration of SPP's ID4 upright has had a significant impact on site productivity. By eliminating cutting, this system also reduces material waste, thus limiting waste management costs and environmental impact, two essential issues today."

Rehabilitation and restructuring of the Loubet Tower, 3 avenue Emile LOUBET, Saint Etienne (42) – 22.000 m2 | 14 floors

Project owner: EPASE (Saint-Étienne Public Development Establishment) | HABITAT & METROPOLE (leading housing operator in the Saint-Étienne metropolitan area)

Project manager: Vigier Architect

Insulation, plastering, painting: CHANEL Rénovation, 12 Rue de l'industrie, 69200 VENISSIEUX

Frames: 100% SPP | 35.000 ml of profiles including 6.500 ml of spliced ​​ID4 48 uprights

Cost of the operation: 56 million euros