Category: Testimonials

Flagstaff, Arizona – The Lowell Observatory marked a new milestone in the history of astronomy with the inauguration of the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center. This new space dedicated to discovery and wonder promises to spark curiosity in both young and old.

Located in the city of Flagstaff, the world’s first International Dark Sky City, Lowell Observatory has built an astronomy discovery center, further reinforcing its status as a hub for astronomical advancements that attracts renowned tourists and researchers.

The Lowell Observatory alone draws about 100,000 visitors annually, significantly contributing to local education and tourism. Over the next decade, astrotourism in northern Arizona is expected to generate $5.8 billion for the Colorado Plateau and create around 10,000 new jobs every year, according to Night Sky Tourist.

Situated at the heart of the famous observatory, globally recognized for the discovery of Pluto, the new 40,000-square-foot, $53.4 million state-of-the-art center offers an immersive and interactive experience for all ages. With three floors and an open-sky planetarium, visitors can explore the mysteries of the universe through captivating exhibits, immersive simulations, and innovative educational tools.

 

Playground Architecture Designed for the Youngest Visitors

Among the many attractions at the center, SMC2 has created a custom-designed playground, accessible to people with mobility impairments, which will particularly captivate the younger ones.

Made up of two interconnected cloud-shaped structures nearly 10 meters in length and a 3-meter-high slide, this playful and colorful playground invites children aged 0 to 8 to explore space in a fun way. While playing, these budding astronauts will be able to develop their imagination and knowledge of the universe.

This playground is the result of a collaboration between SMC2 and Lowell Observatory, and a real asset to the center. It offers a safe and stimulating space where, guided by the adorable aliens Marzee and Pluie, children can play and learn with their heads in the clouds while marveling at the wonders of the cosmos.

A Successful Partnership for a Custom Playground

SMC2 is proud to have contributed to the creation of this space dedicated to awakening young minds. By designing this cloud-shaped playground, we wanted to offer children a unique and memorable experience. We are confident that this playground will help ignite their curiosity about astronomy and science in general.

A Place for Learning and Sharing

The Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center is much more than just a museum. It is a place for sharing, exchange, and learning where visitors from all walks of life can discover the latest advancements in astronomical research. The center also offers educational programs for schools and groups, as well as special events throughout the year.

 A Promising Future

With the opening of the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center, Lowell Observatory is asserting itself as a major player in astrotourism. This new space offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the cosmos under one of the darkest skies in the world and will help make astronomy a passion accessible to all.

The Astronomy Discovery Center has been recognized by Smithsonian Magazine as the most anticipated museum for 2024, and Lowell was recently named Arizona’s most iconic tourist attraction by PHOENIX magazine as part of the Arizona Travel Awards.

About Lowell Observatory

Founded in 1894, the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is a renowned nonprofit research institution. It is the site of historical and groundbreaking discoveries, including the first evidence of the expansion of the universe and the discovery of Pluto.

Today, Lowell astronomers use world-class ground-based and space telescopes, as well as NASA spacecraft, for various astronomical and planetary research. The observatory welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year for educational activities, presentations, and observations using a world-class public telescope collection.

 

 

Since its creation and today more than ever, SMC2 is committed to promoting energy sobriety by creating eco-responsible buildings in its field.

 

WHAT IS ENERGY SOBRIETY?

Energy sobriety consists of reducing energy consumption by changing lifestyles, behaviors and society. It stems from the environmental limits – exhaustible resources, pollution and CO2 thresholds that must not be exceeded, that the world is currently facing. It is part of the ecological transition process.

 

SMC2 AND ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT

In the 2000s, awareness of the environmental impact of the large-scale use of energy led to the need to change our energy model.  It was at this time that SMC2 was born. Since its creation, our company has adopted an eco-responsible position by implementing environmentally friendly construction systems.

By favouring timber frame and tensile membrane for the roof, we specify the use of biomaterials that are clean for the planet. Wood has a negative carbon footprint thanks to its ability to store CO2. Stretched envelopes allow the creation of volume with a minimum of material and energy.

 

 

Our commitment goes beyond the materials we use: we also want to encourage communities and their residents to change their sporting habits. SMC2 construct sports buildings that do not require heating or air conditioning and that requires no or little artificial lighting during the day to ensure that the competitors can play comfortably. In fact, the textile membrane we use to cover our buildings is translucent, it filters UV rays but allows natural light to pass through.

SMC2 sports facilities therefore have a low environmental impact during construction and operation.

SMC2 prefers the use of offsite construction of its sports buildings. The prefabrication of parts and the reduction of construction time make it possible to make significant savings on materials, transport and labour. The minimal amount of waste and greatly reduced water consumption mean that the sites are not very polluting and can be cleaned up quickly.

 

EXAMPLE OF ECO-CONSTRUCTION: ZOOM ON THE TEMPERED GYMNASIUM

At a time when we are facing major ecological challenges, it is becoming essential to think of tomorrow’s gymnasium in terms of sustainable development and zero carbon.

Thinking of the eco-responsible gymnasium means ensuring that from the outset of its design, superior materials and equipment are chosen or at least have a low environmental impact, and that its use is encouraged by the greatest number of people. In other words, a design that requires minimal use of natural resources and allows for maximum durability and use.

An eco-designed gymnasium

The use of timber and textile membranes in the construction of our dynamic sports halls allows us to build bright, temperate gymnasiums that provide thermal comfort all year round.

In summer, our gyms do not need to be air-conditioned. Both the textile membrane and the wood do not store heat. The white colour of the stretched fabric allows 90% of the sun’s rays to be reflected. This is called the albedo effect. Combined with an effective ventilation system, sunshields and appropriate clothing, players can play the sport comfortably on warm days of the year.

In winter, we recommend not heating the gyms or limiting the heating to 12 degrees. With an efficient hygrothermal regulation to have dry air, closed facades to avoid heat loss and appropriate clothing, competitors will be able to practice their sport without feeling cold. Let’s not forget that the athlete warms up while practicing their sport!

 

To sum up, at a time when ecology is becoming an essential part of future strategies, our eco-responsible sports buildings can be used all year round by everyone without excessive energy consumption thanks to a timber framework and a tensile membrane roof. This is proof that energy saving and thermal comfort can go hand in hand.

SMC2, France’s leader in the construction of sports and leisure buildings, presents its covered outdoor tennis court solution. Economical and quick to set up, it combines the advantages of indoor play with the comfort of outdoor play!

 

The pleasure of outdoor play without the drawbacks

Thanks to its high-performance textile cover, the SMC2 outdoor tennis court allows players to enjoy the pleasures of playing outdoors while enjoying the advantages of a quality indoor construction.
They enjoy a great sense of space, good air quality and excellent light, while avoiding inconveniences such as shadows, glare, the dangers of direct and prolonged exposure to the sun or the impossibility of playing due to bad weather.
This makes it possible to play all year round!

 

Design speed

This solution consists of a textile cover resting on a wood/metal framework which is itself supported by wooden or metal pillars.
This type of dry construction allows a high speed of execution on site. For example, SMC2’s intervention in the design of 8 covered tennis courts for the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy lasted a total of only 4 months: 1.5 months for the foundations of the courtyard and 2.5 months for the assembly of the framework and the textile cover.

 

A sustainable solution
Designed to “stand the test of time”, the SMC2 covered outdoor tennis courts are a sustainable solution for cities and clubs:
The metal structures are highly resistant to corrosion, while the textile coverings are installed in such a way as to guarantee their perfect mechanical stability. The metal frameworks are highly resistant to corrosion, while the textile covers are mechanically stable and do not lose their translucency over time. They are coated with an anti-fouling varnish and do not require any special maintenance.

Global warming on the rise

In France, temperatures over the last decade have only increased. If in 1920, the average temperature was 12.1°C (i.e. +0.3°C above seasonal norms), in 2020 the average was 14°C (i.e. +2.2°C above seasonal norms). This graph illustrates the evolution of the average temperature per year in France over a period of 120 years, from 1900 to 2020.

Source : Le Monde

Unfortunately, this rise in temperature is not a national problem. On a global scale, the situation is alarming. 2016, 2019 and 2020 are the three hottest years ever recorded, according to a press release dated 15 January 2022 from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

In the face of this worrying data, the member states that signed the Paris Agreement have committed to limiting global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Reflecting on the characteristics of facade materials and exterior cladding is one way to improve urban heat control, both inside and outside.

 

The albedo effect: definition

In urban areas, where rising temperatures are felt the most, heat is partly linked to the cladding and materials used in buildings. It is therefore becoming urgent to change our building habits by adapting the choice of materials and redesigning public space.

One of the characteristics of the material to be taken into account is its capacity to reflect the sun’s rays without storing them. This is known as the albedo effect. The greater the albedo effect is, the lower the urban heat is, as itis automatically reflected back into the atmosphere.

The albedo therefore measures “the capacity of a surface to reflect incident solar energy”. This rate varies from 0 (all the incident energy is absorbed in the case of a totally black surface, for example) to 1 (all the incident energy is reflected).

Source: Lille Low Carbon Pact / Extract from the reference framework – version of 27/08/2021

 

The contribution of the textile membrane

Light colours contribute significantly to the albedo effect.

SMC2 contributes to the deployment of this albedo effect by covering its sports and leisure buildings with a textile membrane. The white stretched fabric will protect the infrastructure from bad weather and allow natural light to pass through while reflecting heat. Its albedo is close to 1, thus guaranteeing a reduction in the heating of the sites concerned. This provides ideal playing comfort for sportsmen and women, an environmentally friendly building and a general contribution to reducing global warming, especially in cities.

Textile roofing is particularly popular in the school sector. Our playgrounds, with their tensioned fabric cover, offer a pleasant refuge for schoolchildren to play and develop. They are protected from the weather and provide a welcome shade in schoolyards that are often too hot.

Our engineering in sports structures has been extended to the field of leisure. We combine architecture and play to create an aesthetically pleasing, comfortable and structured elevated play environment.

 

PLAY TOWERS, OUR HIGH-RISE PLAY AREAS

The play towers offer a real playground for children and their environment. Made of noble and durable materials, our play towers combine human beings with nature while allowing children to develop their senses and build their imagination.

More than just play areas, it is a real architecture of play that we are putting in place in order to offer complete play spaces for pleasure and sharing as a family that integrate into the local landscape.

We favour the construction of play areas in height to allow children and parents to rise above their environment and to make the play tower a belvedere for observation. Our leisure structures then become real sources of varied activities for children. The height brings strong sensations of joy and pleasure.

 

THE EXAMPLE OF PRABOURÉ, THE PLAYFUL LOOKOUT TOWER

SMC2 has developed a fun tower with a platform that reaches a height of 30 metres. Rich in thrills thanks to its slide (the largest dry slide in Europe), it also offers a panoramic view of the Prabouré Mountain Activity Park. With its staircases, the tower is accessible to all, without having to take the slide for the descent.

Discover the playful tower in video:

This tower with its glued laminated wood structure blends in with the rest of the park and allows visitors to reconnect with nature with sensory materials. It thus offers a complete experience to its users, which is social, educational and cultural. It also serves a triple objective of attractiveness of the territory, development of the tourist activity and sharing of playful moments with the family.

The SMC2 team spent a day at the Prabouré park and was able to test our fun tour. The feedback was unequivocal: “A day placed under the sign of good humour and conviviality. Adults, children and older children. We all had a great time”, “It was really great, thank you for this dream day”, “After admiring the magnificent view of the park, the slide offers a thrilling descent”.

« WE WANTED A BUILDING THAT WAS ECONOMICAL, MET REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND WAS BUILT QUICKLY »

Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, a town in France with a population of nearly 25,000, has entrusted SMC2 with the construction of its new gymnasium. Gilbert Dérus, the town’s deputy mayor for sports, takes a look at the project.

Why did you invest in a new gymnasium?

Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône has many facilities in its area that allow for a wide variety of sports. Nevertheless, like many towns in the Paris region, we are short of facilities and it was therefore necessary to complete our offer. We took advantage of a free area within a sports complex, which includes a traditional gymnasium and two large playing fields, to build a new indoor structure.

What made you choose SMC2?

We had three essential criteria for this project: a building that was economical, met regulatory requirements and was built quickly. That’s why we were more interested in alternative solutions than in traditional techniques. We visited several projects and the tender was won by SMC2, based on the technical and financial criteria.

Can you present the building?

The Madeline Pauliac gymnasium itself measures 44 x 24 m and has several storage areas: one for the clubs, the teachers and the technical services. The building has a glued laminated timber frame, a textile membrane roof and, on two of the façades, a perforated metal double skin cladding to optimise acoustic insulation. Inside, the equipment is heated by gas radiators and has dehumidifiers to prevent condensation and improve thermal comfort.

An annex, independent of the gymnasium, includes two changing rooms, technical rooms and a reception area. The whole project was very well managed by the project manager and the companies, with a very harmonious result. In total, the work lasted 8 months for a total investment of €2 million, including €800,000 for the gymnasium, which is about half the cost of a traditional facility.

In addition, we were able to personalise the textile facade afterwards, thanks to stickers, mentioning in particular the name of the gym.

How is the gym used?

The gym has been used a lot since it was opened in September 2021: it is mainly used by students from two secondary schools and a high school, but also for training by team sports clubs, such as handball and basketball.

The first feedback is very positive, especially from the physical education and sports teachers who appreciate the natural light provided by the textile membrane. The LED lighting is rarely used, only at the end of the day, and this will be less and less the case with the arrival of the good weather. Thus, the operating cost should be reduced compared to other gymnasiums, with less consumption for lighting and heating: savings for our finances that are always welcome! We will make a first assessment after a full year of use.

To sum up, this is the first time we have invested in this type of building, and we will probably consider building more in the future.

 

“Site visits to this type of facility won us over”.

The town of Verrières-en-Anjou (49) has just invested in a sports complex consisting of a structure with a glued laminated wood frame and a textile membrane roof. A highly appreciated investment, as Eric Michaud, deputy for major projects and former deputy for sports, explains.

Can you tell us about the origin of this project?

For several years, elected officials have been developing numerous projects to offer quality sports facilities, such as the football pitch or the athletics track, in order to cater for 26 associations and 2,700 members. Among the projects still to be implemented, a sports hall was a must. Indeed, with 7,300 inhabitants, the town is gradually growing and the need for an indoor facility was necessary, especially since we have a high school with 1,700 students.

Why did you choose the construction principle proposed by SMC2? 

Initially, we were wondering about this type of construction with a glulam frame and a textile membrane roof. However, site visits to this type of facility won us over. The textile membrane offers many advantages, including excellent brightness, resulting in user comfort and light savings. In addition, this construction option is more economical than steel panelling, faster and more environmentally friendly. Finally, the timber frame was manufactured on site in Saint-Sylvain d’Anjou.

 

What are the different areas of this sports complex?

The 2,050 m² site has a main multi-sports hall of 1,350 m², equipped with a resin sports floor, a 240-seat grandstand and LED lighting with 24 three-metre-long lights in six rows. Whatever the level of illumination required (300 lux for training and 500 lux for competition), all the lamps are switched on to achieve perfect uniformity. The level of illumination is regulated by varying the power of all the lamps. This gym is heated to a maximum of 12-13°C by hot water radiators. In addition, the room is equipped with a ventilation and dehumidification system to prevent condensation.

The building also includes 700 m² of annexes, with 4 changing rooms for the players, 2 for the referees, a medical room, a social area and several storage rooms.

 

Who are the main users?

Built near the high school (which allowed us to share the car park and thus save about 500,000 euros on the project), the gym is mainly used by students during the day. An agreement has been signed with the school to pay half of the annual operating budget of the site, i.e. 50,000 euros.

As for the commune’s sports associations, they use the site in the evenings and at weekends. The sports complex was officially opened at the beginning of September and the initial feedback from all users has been very positive.

 

More information about this sports complex

“An innovative design that offers great value for money.”

 

Guilers, a town in Finistère with a population of around 8,500, has just acquired two buildings with canvas roofing, built by SMC2: a boulodrome (boules court) and an athletics hall. Pierre Ogor, the town’s mayor, presents these two structures and their architectural features.

 

Why did you decide to build these two facilities?
In 40 years, our community has grown from 2,000 to 8,500 inhabitants and our ageing infrastructure no longer meets the new expectations of our very dynamic sports association sector. After making investments for young children, for the elderly, and for a new music school, not forgetting the restructuring of the schools and the renovation of the sports facilities, our inter-communal club, which has 700 members, had to invest in a covered athletics facility, because we are in a region where it rains occasionally (laughs). As for the boulodrome, the boules players told us that they would like to have a partly covered playing area and we agreed.

 

Why did you choose this building process?
At the beginning we had defined several criteria, such as an innovative design that fits perfectly into our environment, taking into account sustainability aspects and, of course, that is good value for money in order to be accessible for our budget. On this last point, it is important to emphasise that athletics halls built in traditional buildings, such as those located near us (Saint-Brieuc, Rennes or Nantes), cost 10 to 15 million euros. However, our municipality did not have the financial means to invest in such equipment.
Together with our architect, we visited several facilities, and we really liked this type of building with a wooden frame and a textile membrane roof. The latter provides excellent brightness throughout the day, avoiding the need for excessive artificial light. The rounded shape of the building, the white colour of the fabric and the visuals of athletes in motion at the bottom of the structure perfectly illustrate the innovative concept we were looking for.
Finally, we opted for the same type of building for the boulodrome in order to create a link between them, even though the two facilities are not on the same site.

 

Can you describe the two structures?
Measuring 97 x 46 m, the athletics hall has four pieces of canvas roofing (6,000 m2 in total) with a clear-span structure. The venue has a 200 m track with 5 lanes and 8 lanes for the speed events (50 and 60 m), as well as stands with 380 seats. The site also has one track for the high jump, two for the long jump and two for the triple jump, as well as the pole vault and shot-put areas. In addition, there is an outdoor javelin and discus area. This athletics hall is approved for departmental and regional competitions. The investment represents a budget of €3.3 million including VAT.
The boulodrome has a surface area of 38 x 40 m (playing area 35 x 33 m) and covers one third of the existing courts. The roof structure has a clear span of 33 m.

 

What is the initial feedback?

Unfortunately, given the current situation, the school children were only able to use the hall for one day. As for the club, only top-level athletes, as part of their individual training, have access to the site and the initial feedback is particularly good. We are therefore eager to see the hall fully employed by all users. In any case, it is in great demand and will be very busy.
At the same time, we are also repeatedly asked by other local authorities and some athletics leagues to visit the building. We can see that this is a concept that is very popular and that can be an interesting option for hosting many different sports disciplines.

The playground we created for the city of Avignon was inaugurated on Sunday 22nd December.

 

During the end of year and school holiday season, many children and teenagers attended with their parents to be the first to test this brand new facility. And the least we can say is that they were enthusiastic !

 

A high playground suitable for all generations composed of cloud-shaped stainless steel play modules. This design not only serves the elegance of the facility but also its fun and enjoyment. In terms of variety of games, there’s something for everyone: rocking games, trampolines, ropes, bridges … and of course slides, for the joy of young and old alike!

 

Our playgrounds are modular and adaptable to your needs and constraints. In addition to the Clouds range we have also developed a cabin style worldwhich can be built into a Preosport, our indoor multi-sports ground solution.

 

Thank you to the city of Avignon for having faith in us and for being the first town in France to choose an SMC2 playground, without doubt the first of a long series!

 

Discover our playgrounds

“A COVERED STRUCTURE TO CREATE A NEW DYNAMIC”,

 

Last June, the town of Mornant, located in the Rhône region of France, inaugurated a structure with two tennis courts built by SMC2. Its first indoor courts will allow the local club to grow as playing will be possible all year round. Renaud Pfeffer, the mayor of this town of over 5,000 inhabitants, looks back on the structure.

Why did you invest in this covered structure?
For the past few years in Mornant, we have had a general sports facility improvement policy. As part of the policy, we decided to renovate the 4 existing porous concrete tennis courts and to cover two of them so that the local tennis club could offer its members the means to play all year round so that it could grow, while increasing the sports offer in our town. This investment has been a success as the number of licensees has increased to 180. The primary schools are also happy to be able to use these covered courts.

 

Can you present the works?
From the start, we worked closely with the club’s managers to understand their needs in order to optimise playing facilities for their members.
In addition to being covered, the two existing porous concrete courts have been completely refurbished: surface, lighting, paint, equipment… They now have a lighting system adapted to demand and disabled access.
The two outdoor courts have also been refurbished (surface and paint) and members also benefit from the existing clubhouse nearby.

 

What are the qualities that made you choose the SMC2 structure?
We already had two gymnasiums and we didn’t want that type of structure because we believe that a multi-sports gymnasium isn’t suitable for playing tennis properly. It’s also expensive infrastructure that is long to build.
On the other hand, the SMC2 concept has a quite simple construction system, meaning time saving and a controlled budget. The materials are high quality too. For example, the textile membrane is very interesting in terms of light, with significant natural light (and therefore electricity savings), but also in terms of acoustics. Indeed, it’s an important issue for players because in certain structures the noise resonates too much and is very unpleasant.
We are therefore fully satisfied with this new structure in terms of functionality, technique and budget.

 

See also: Photo report on the Mornant tennis hall