A delegation of Conscytec, our construction subsidiary, recently travelled to Clermont-Ferrand (France) to visit a very unique project being executed by Eiffage Construction for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. A visit organized by Jacques Bouillot, from Eiffage Construction, and Armand Dubois of Savare. The project in question is the NLAC (Nouveau Lycée de l’Agglomération Clermontoise). A school built mainly with a CLT timber structure and modular façades made from a framework of timber insulated with straw. These façades are prefabricated in a workshop located near the construction site, using wood from the Massif Central or the Alps and straw from Limagne. The project gave jobs to local unemployed people. The school is built on an area of 19,000 m2, is distributed over two to five floors and has space for 1000 students.
Example of a circular economy
An example of a circular economy, as part of our awareness of the need to fight against scarce resources. In this regard, from the study phase of our projects onwards, at Eiffage we seek to reduce and optimise the use of virgin raw materials as much as possible. Eco-design and the recovery of materials are two priority areas of the group’s circular economy policy, which we also carry out at Eiffage Energía.
Energy efficiency
The project stands out due to its energy efficiency, as it has achieved the highest French E+C- classification of E4C2 (“positive energy and low carbon”). This level means that the project has a positive energy balance (with 100% renewable energy, the building produces more energy than it consumes); and a significantly smaller carbon footprint than traditional buildings (particularly due to the use of local wood and straw). Furthermore, manufacturing the façades on an industrial scale considerably reduces the amount of waste produced on site.
Pilot building
Following on from this visit, Conscytec is designing a pilot building using the same construction system. This project is related to the challenge given to the University of Castilla-La Mancha last June: “Industrialisation – Sustainability – Circular Economy. Key to the transformation of the construction sector”. 
