Trapezoidal curtain walls of the Arena Futuroscope in Poitiers: a project highlighting Louineau's expertise in the dimensioning of anchoring parts

Located near Poitiers, at the gates of the Park of the same name, the Arena Futuroscope is distinguished by its contemporary architecture, characterized by a rectangular and monolithic shell. Designed by the multidisciplinary architecture group Patriarche, and produced by the Atelier du Moulin agency (operational architect), this setting seems to rise from the ground and reveal its heart through its four glazed angles. These trapezoidal aluminum curtain walls with imposing heights (up to 7,5 m at two or three anchor points) required cutting-edge expertise both in their implementation and in the technical approach carried out on the systems. LOUINEAU* made-to-measure anchor.

Miroiterie Mélusine, a member of CSI Réseau, was chosen to manufacture and install the facades. It contacted the LOUINEAU design office to justify the choice of parts (sleeves and shoes) via calculation notes. He determined the wind and weight forces taken up mechanically by each anchoring system, based on the standards in force** and integrating the assumptions of the site (wind zone here 1, terrain roughness category here III , seismic zone, height of the building, etc.). In the case of an ERP located near Poitiers, a city which is in a seismicity zone 3, it was also required to take into account the loads due to moderate tremors. Once the anchoring parts reaching these values ​​have been validated by Miroiterie Mélusine, LOUINEAU launched production.

In total, 20 different assembly cases were determined, ie as many calculation notes, essential to guarantee the safety and durability of the work with the control office in charge of the Arena Futuroscope. This is one of the largest LOUINEAU projects in 2021, in terms of sizing study.

Each assembly case has its own calculation note

The Arena Futuroscope is adorned with nearly 1.000 m² of curtain wall spread over four corners and implemented as an exterior wall light or in a tunnel. They are fixed directly in the frame in the upper part and offset in the void or placed on a concrete stringer in the lower part. Their height up to 7,5 m, their slopes, and their different angles required the creation of 20 models of parts: sleeves on angle bracket with offset, specific angle sleeves, double sleeves to support the largest glass volumes , clogs on angle bracket with offset... To define the angles of the parts, LOUINEAU relied on BIM modeling provided upstream by the client.

As soon as the geometry of a part is modified, it reacts differently to weight, wind and seismic, and therefore requires a new assembly case. No part could be standard for this site because the loads were very heavy at heights of up to 7,5 m at two or three anchor points. The largest part took 1,8 tons for example. We even had to design and justify an anchor with four angles alone because it incorporated two slopes and two different depths. », emphasizes Romain Pubertés, LOUINEAU Design Office Technician.

Made in Vendée manufacturing

After validation of the made-to-measure pieces by Miroiterie Mélusine, LOUINEAU launched production in its workshop in Luçon. A total of 257 sleeves and 70 shoes were delivered to the site in two stages, January and May 2021, depending on its progress.