Category: Le Mag SMC2

“A two-in-one sports facility for Luzech”

For more than a year, the town of Luzech (46) and its 2,000 inhabitants have been enjoying a covered sports hall including a multi-sports surface and a tennis court. The town’s major Gérard Alazard talks about the completed project.

Why did you decide to build this sports facility?
Our previous secondary and primary schools, with a respective capacity of 250 and 200 pupils, were redesigned into a brand new school complex with a much larger admittance (700). To cater to these new requirements, we had to add a second sports facility to the existing gymnasium. Because we already had rugby changing rooms that were not being used during working hours on weekdays, the extra sports grounds were all that was missing.

Why did you choose the structure proposed by SMC2?
We are located in a historically classified area, right next to a 12th century tower. So we wanted an elegant structure that was neither massive nor imposing. In addition, the structure had to be lightweight because it was going to be built on floodable terrain.
Furthermore, the solution proposed by SMC2 is highly advantageous price-wise: a classic gymnasium would have cost about three times more. Operating costs are also much lower since the translucent fabric lets a lot of light through, making artificial lighting necessary in the evenings only. An added advantage is the fact that the facility doesn’t need to be heated.
And last but not least, the work was done fast, with earthworks beginning in November 2016 and the entire worksite completed in April 2017. The structure was assembled from late December to late March and was a genuine feat of engineering involving 24-metre long beams that had to be lifted into a hammed-in area with tricky access.

Could you introduce the building to us please?
With a floor area of 1,723 m2, the building is divided into two volumes, each featuring a different kind of sports floor. The first volume contains a multi-sports surface for handball, basketball (1 main court and 3 mini-courts running width-wise), volleyball (1 terrain main court and 3 courts width-wise), tennis and badminton (up to 7 courts). To fit all these uses, this volume has an all-purpose sports floor. The other part of the building houses a porous concrete tennis court to encourage this sports the whole year round, which isn’t the case with the existing outdoor courts. This second area also provides 4 additional badminton courts in case the timetables of the three physical education and sports teachers overlap.
This sports hall includes a lot of technical features like staggered facades, roof overhangs, relative humidity control, decorative artwork printed on frontages, etc.
In all, the structure is used 50 hours a week by the schools and about 30 hours by the sports clubs, i.e. nearly 12 hours a day. After almost a year in operation, we are highly satisfied and have had a lot of very positive feedback from regular users and visiting players alike.

See more about this facility

We wanted an airy covered structure for a wide range of activities.

In early July, Pressins (38), a town of 1,160 inhabitants, inaugurated its school’s outdoor gym. The town opted for the Preosport® solution and is now enjoying a sports facility that can host a wide selection of activities.

How did the project begin?
Our school, which has more than 160 pupils, didn’t have a gym area suitable for children’s activities, including sports. So we made the most of our 700 m2 plot of land adjacent to the school to build a covered structure. The aim was also to supplement our sports facilities: a tennis court, a football field and a bowling pitch.

Why did you choose the solution from SMC2?
The Preosport® is an airy structure that’s covered and designed to be a fully-fledged outdoor gym for use the whole year round. We also liked the fabric membrane that lets a lot of light through. In addition, it was easy to build a customised facility: its dimensions are 22 x 70 m with a height of 5.50 m under the roof. It includes several marking layouts, football goal cages, school equipment and a height-adjustable net for tennis, badminton and volleyball. As for the floor, we chose a coated aggregate solution.
It’s a structure that features a lot of highly technical solutions. For instance, it has a discreet single sloped roof to drain off rainwater from the single roof pitch located alongside an existing drainage ditch. So we didn’t need to install a special drainage system. It’s also a structure that’s ideal for multi-activities, which seamlessly matched our needs and intentions. Lastly, it was also an economic choice since the cost is significantly lower than a traditional gymnasium.

How is this facility being used?
It is mainly used for school and extracurricular activities, but also by the town’s associations, both sporting and others. For example, the outdoor gym is used for the school fete, jumble sale and some group meals with up to 150 guests. The gym is freely available the rest of the time. In addition, because the structure is independent from the schoolyard, we also hire it out for private events, especially evening events, as it has a manually-adjustable lighting system. Since it was inaugurated, the feedback is very positive so we’re satisfied with this investment, especially since the structure is easy to manage and requires no special maintenance.

In December 2016, Gagnac sur Garonne (31), a town of some 3,000 inhabitants, inaugurated ASTRIA, a Preosport housing a multisports area and a bowls pitch. Patrick Bergougnoux, the municipal councillor in charge of finance and project prime contractor, talks about this investment meeting a number of requirements.

How did the project begin?
Because the town did not have a gym, we had been intending to build a covered facility for many years to supplement the two outdoor tennis courts, two football fields, bowls pitch and the association halls (gym, dancing, music, etc.) we did have. We had a plot of land available nearby the existing structures, but it was in a flood-risk zone. After a lot of thought, we decided to invest in a Preosport from SMC2 because it demanded fewer building permit constraints than a gymnasium.

What was behind this choice?
It is an excellent compromise because it’s a roofed structure with closed sides that let the air in because they feature slats along the lower sections and micro-perforated fabric along the upper sections. Having a roofed facility was important to be able to host school and club activities, in particular for children. In addition, this system avoids having to pay high operating costs since there is no heating and very little lighting thanks to the structure featuring translucent tensile fabric that lets in natural light. Lastly, it blends into the environment perfectly, an important criterion for a rural town like ours.

Could you tell us about this sports facility?
The first section features a 45 x 36 m structure housing two multisport areas separated by a moveable net, for football, tennis, basketball, badminton and volleyball. When it’s not subdivided, the area measures 40 x 20 m and can therefore host handball and futsal matches. So, the French Football Federation has accredited this field at futsal level 3 and the two lengthwise areas (34 x 17 m) at futsal level 4. This dual playing area can host several sports activities simultaneously, which is highly appreciable because the facility is used very intensively by the two nearby schools and the Gagnac Sports and Culture Association (more than 1,600 members in all).
The second section, located further along, measures 36 x 10 m and houses a bowls pitch. It can accommodate up to 4 games for an official competition and a few more for training and friendly games.

What feedback have you had so far?
Feedback has been very positive since this investment has empowered the existing football, tennis and French bowls associations to continue play even in bad weather conditions. Furthermore, this facility has fostered the creation of a badminton club and is expected to provide incentive for leisure activities involving basketball or volleyball. As far as operation goes, the facility is run like a gymnasium: it is reserved to municipal and club activities with free access not currently contemplated.

Revivez l’évolution du chantier de l’Astria en vidéo

The town of Chavenay in the Yvelines department has built indoor tennis courts plus a judo and dance hall. Completed about a year ago, this sports facility is giving a new lease of life to the town’s sporting life, according to Siegfried Jahn, deputy mayor in charge of works.

What made you build this sports facility?
The existing sports hall was the former girls’ school: so it goes without saying that the design wasn’t right and it was very cramped. Moreover, we had no covered tennis courts, which meant a lot of members were pulling out to join clubs in the surrounding towns. The club’s membership dropped from 200 to fewer than 150 in a short lapse of time. So we obviously needed to fix the problem. And we were right to do so because our tennis club’s membership has since risen above the 200 mark. In addition, we were able to host the Gally Tournament very successfully.

How did you make your choice regarding the structure?
We had to respond to several constraints because we are in a historical village. So, we had to work with the architects from Bâtiments de France. For instance, we weren’t allowed to put up a bubble structure over the tennis courts like many other towns have done. We then started finding out about the other solutions available to us. We got interested in SMC2’s portfolio and roofing system, especially from the architectural design viewpoint. This was an important criterion for us. We needed a facility that met all these constraints and one that would blend seamlessly into our environment. We are entirely satisfied with our choice and I would like to commend the efficient team work that went on with the company’s technicians in addition to its professionalism.

Could you tell us about the facility?
Both courts (45 x 40 m) are roofed by a wood frame with large side windows. The roof features a translucent covering provided by a tensile fabric membrane and a roof frame with 100% wood cladding. The facility is very bright and is not heated, but merely tempered at 12 °C. Because of our geographical location, heating would be pointless with respect to the investment involved. This solution easily provides for use the whole year round except perhaps for a fortnight over the year in the event of extreme cold or hot weather. Both courts are lit with LED floodlight arrays. One of the courts is marked for handball (with a fold-away goalpost system) for school children.
We also have a small complex featuring a 100 m2sports hall, changing rooms, washrooms and reception. The hall is divided into two for judo and dancing. It is mainly used by the town’s multisports club as well as its schools and the outdoor leisure centre.
This structure responds to a whole series of requirements and revitalises our town’s sporting life in addition to enhancing its attractiveness.

« A structure that fits perfectly into the landscape »

SMC2 has just built a covered structure for two tennis courts in Courville-sur-Eure (France). Blending in perfectly with the surrounding listed monuments, it allows the club to take its development to a new level. We spoke to Jean-Philippe Récamento, president of the tennis club, who initiated the project.

Why did you want to cover two courts?

Until now, we only had two outdoor porous concrete courts and a few slots in two gymnasiums to practice during the winter. These conditions were insufficient to offer year-round activities to our 110 members. So, to create a new dynamic within the club, it was decided with the town hall to cover the two existing courts (while renovating them) and to build two additional outdoor courts.

What was the main problem with the project?

The site is located near several listed buildings (Saint-Pierre Church, Porte Saint-Nicolas, etc.), so it had to accommodate a facility that would fit in perfectly with its surroundings and meet the requirements of the Architectes des Bâtiments de France. The company SMC2 was chosen for this project and was able to adapt perfectly by proposing a structure that met the desired criteria. The white textile roofing membrane allows a maximum amount of light to pass through. It is guaranteed for 22 years and does not require any particular maintenance. On the façade, the membrane is brown in order to blend in with the park next door. In addition, the sub-base of the building is 4 m high in order to be in line with the clubhouse and thus obtain a harmonious whole. Inside, the structure has a wooden frame with a single line of intermediate posts.

Can you present the building?

The building consists of a 140 m2 zinc clubhouse with changing rooms, storage rooms, an office and a living area. Afterwards, the sportsmen and women have direct access to the sports area, which consists of two courts with a needle-punched membrane and a very fine ceramic sand filling. Both courts are lit by about 30 LED spotlights each. However, so far we haven’t had to use the lighting much, except from 5.30 or 6 pm, because the textile membrane allows a maximum of light to pass through, without it being a nuisance for the sportsmen, with no shadow areas. It’s very pleasant, while allowing us to save energy.

What is the first feedback from users?

The members are very satisfied because the playing conditions are optimal. Since they were inaugurated in September, the indoor courts have been very busy: about 40 hours a week for training, a dozen hours at weekends for competitions, not counting the slots reserved for leisure activities… With these new facilities, the club has already increased the number of members to 140 and our objective is to reach 250 in the near future.

Photo credits: SMC2 / Tennis-club Amicale Courvilloise