Rue Saint-Martin 9-11

Thermal improvement of a building in Lausanne.Entrepri

At the Pont Bessières in Lausanne, a complex dating from the second half of the last century consists of a seven- to eight-storey tower, depending on the slope of the land, and a lower north wing. Owned by a pension fund, it houses administrative premises, including the offices of a press group, on the upper levels, and, on the lower floors, premises for retail, catering and nightlife.

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The main aim of the project was to improve the thermal performance of a 28,000-cubic-meter complex. It focused primarily on the exterior envelope, facades, roof and windows.

The roof of the complex featured initial insulation, which was maintained but solidly completed to improve its effectiveness. The facades were completely refurbished, with all-round insulation and the replacement of all openings, i.e. 1,500 square metres of windows.

Located in the middle of an urban area, with access at two very different levels - rue Saint-Martin and Pont Bessières - the worksite was difficult because there was no storage space. The closure of an editorial office freed up the volume needed to store materials during the works.

Another major difficulty arose with the replacement of the windows. The frames of the old windows were insulated with asbestos. The upper part, which could be opened, was removed and treated in a suitable location. The lower, fixed part required the insulation of each embrasure during removal.

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Transforming an occupied building is bound to cause a nuisance. In this case, the main focus was on the envelope, with less impact on the residents. However, changing the windows was bound to affect them. Good collaboration ensured that the work went off without a hitch.

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