The new technical centre is a perfect example of Technal's commitment to sustainable development and energy saving. Dedicated to the research and development of Technal products and concepts, the I&T Center (Innovation & Test Center) is also a full-scale test site for future building products, such as sunshades equipped with photovoltaic sensors.
The facade is designed as a tool for testing complete facade elements, subjecting them to the weather for validation before production. The building is the materialization of the research carried out, the place tested in a natural environment, and the platform for the employees' discussions and presentation of their approaches to the clients.
This project is exemplary in terms of its energy performance and its design, which integrates an industrial and research space and an educational space for the company's customers into a single unit. This is made possible by a dual circulation axis: horizontal for the industrial and research process, and vertical for the visitor's route, thus providing an opportunity to discover the work tool in a concrete way without disrupting its operation. The vertical axis leads to a green terrace, a significant element of the project, functional and energy-saving, but also emblematic, offering a view of the entire site where Technal operates. The building is scalable, allowing the interior space to be modulated by adapting new Technal products to the façade.
The work of Pierre Duffau and the Duffau & Associé·e·s agency has lasted over time and allows Technal to have an in-depth dialogue on the use of buildings, whether they are places of production, display or other functions. The building houses the only acoustic test bench certified by the CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment).
