Upgrading Tottenham Court Road tube station in London
The joint venture formed by Taylor Woodrow (VINCI Construction UK) and BAM Nuttall Ltd has been awarded a £250m (€282m) contract by Transport for London (TfL) to upgrade Tottenham Court Road tube station in London (UK). The project will result in a doubling of the station’s capacity. In particular, the ticket hall will be extended, the station’s existing platforms and passageways will be modernised, and new station entrances and a new concourse linked to the station will be provided. The contract also calls for the construction of new buildings providing staff accommodation, and a ticket hall for the Crossrail Eastern line (the future urban railway system serving London and South-West England). And, finally, the works will include the area outside the station: improved facilities for road users (pedestrians, cyclists, buses and cars), and a new piazza on St Giles Road. Construction work begins early in 2010, with handover scheduled for September 2016.
Opening of the Vauban Docks
In Le Havre (Normandy), the Vauban Docks were formally inaugurated on 14 October, before being opened to the public the following day. Emblematic of 19th century industrial architecture, the buildings here were erected in 1846 and for decades served as Europe‘s main storage site for coffee; they now house a prestigious shopping and leisure centre. Led by VINCI Immobilier and ING Real Estate on behalf of Unibail-Rodamco, the operation to transform them, at a total cost of 125 million euros, was designed by the architectural firm Reichen et Robert and implemented by VINCI Construction France, together with Eurovia and VINCI Energies. The project involved refurbishing and extending 13 huge buildings (60 metres long, 25 metres wide and 12 metres high); their brick and timber structures support roof structures in timber or steel; they are linked together by courtyards and glass-roofed passageways, laid out in a regular pattern. In all it took 18 months and the daily efforts of more than 200 workers to transform the site while retaining the original external appearance of the buildings. The Vauban Docks offer a total surface area of almost 60,000 sq. metres, of which 55,000 sq. metres are devoted to retail outlets, cultural activities and sport. A “day” zone features, among other things, a vast garden centre boasting a tropical greenhouse, a hypermarket, and shops specialising in homewares, DIY or creative leisure activities, as well as particularly specialised outlets catering for the skiing and sailing fraternities. The “night” zone, for its part, offers a 12-screen multiplex cinema, a bar, restaurants, pavement cafés… There are also two new car parks, with car lifts, providing 1,094 parking spaces. Destined to become the port of Greater Paris, with this operation Le Havre has clearly demonstrated its dynamism and magnetic appeal.
Synergies for the extension of the port at Cotonou
On 4 August last, as part of the planned extension of the port in Cotonou (Benin), Sogea-Satom Bénin (VINCI Construction Filiales Internationales), EMCC (VINCI Construction France) and Soletanche Bachy, a subsidiary of Soletanche Freyssinet (VINCI Construction), signed two design-build contracts with MCA Bénin (Millenium Challenge Account). The first, won by Soletanche Bachy, calls for the creation of a 600 m, diaphragm-wall quay, catering for a draught of 12 m, extendable to 15 m. The works, in part entrusted to Sogea-Satom Bénin, began in September, and are due for completion in June 2011. Value: 48.2 million dollars (nearly 33 million euros). The second contract, worth 28.7 million dollars (19.5 million euros) and secured as a joint venture by Sogea-Satom Bénin and EMCC, involves extending the current harbour wall by 300 m. 300,000 t of rip-rap and 4,100 concrete elements will be required to complete this structure, located in water that is 12 m deep. The works, some of which will be carried out by Dumez Maroc (VINCI Construction Filiales Internationales), will take 22 months.
United Arab Emirates: Dynamic compaction in record time
As part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 urban development plan, the emirate intends to build a town comprising 5,000 villas, 2,300 houses, 2,100 high-rise buildings, a hospital, a shopping centre and 14 schools between now and 2013. The soil at the selected site being of poor quality, Ménard, a subsidiary of Soletanche Freyssinet (VINCI Construction), was appointed to undertake soil improvement works on a surface area of some 5 million square metres (of the site’s 12 million square metres). Dynamic compaction (a technique involving dropping a weight of between 15 and 20 tonnes from a height of 15 to 20 metres), carried out by eleven cranes working round the clock, enabled the company to fulfil its biggest-ever contract in just 7 months (a month ahead of schedule).
A19 Opening of 101 km of eco-motorway
On 16 June at noon, four months ahead of schedule, Arcour (VINCI Concessions) opened France’s first ecomotorway to traffic: the A19 links up the A10, the A6 and the A77, and provides the southern bypass round the Île-de-France (the Paris region). The entry into service of this 101 km artery between Artenay and Courtenay (central France) marks the completion of the biggest motorway worksite in France: 8,000 people contributed to the project, putting in 4 million hours of work. Designed and built in just four years by Group companies – VINCI Construction Grands Projets, VINCI Construction France and Eurovia, working together within the Socaly consortium – at a cost of 847 million euros (90% financed by VINCI), and operated by Cofiroute (VINCI Concessions) within the framework of a 65-year concession contract, the A19 testifies to the soundness of VINCI’s concession-construction business model and the Group’s long-term commitment to regional development. It also demonstrates the Group’s know-how as regards sustainable development. The A19 boasts 107 run-off treatment basins (i.e. more than one per kilometre), 9 km of noise barriers (twice the legal requirement), 116 animal crossings and 200,000 trees planted along its route (see Esprit VINCI No. 54, pp. 24-26). This motorway is also the first in France to try out a continuouslymarked hard shoulder, in one traffic direction. By going beyond the current regulatory requirements, the A19 foreshadows a new generation of motorways: “This is a model, an example the entire network must aim to follow,” said French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau at the inauguration ceremony.
VINCI receives the Diversity Label
On 14 May last, VINCI was presented with the Diversity Label by Éric Besson, French Minister for Immigration and National Identity. VINCI is, to date, the only group in its sector to have received it. The award of this label, resulting from the proactive approach instigated in 2006 by Xavier Huillard, Director & CEO of VINCI, with the publication of the Manifesto, testifies to the Group’s commitment to the prevention of discrimination and the promotion of equality of opportunity and of diversity within the framework of its human resource management. The Diversity Label was earned by VINCI SA and those of its subsidiaries specifically audited by Afnor Certification: ASF and Cofiroute (VINCI Concessions), Citéos Île-de-France (VINCI Energies), Eurovia (Tours and Lorient offices), EMCC (Île-de-France office) and GTM Bâtiment (VINCI Construction France). Given the contribution it makes to Vinci’s efforts to constantly improve its performance as regards promoting diversity and guaranteeing equal opportunities within the Group, this audit process will be repeated in 18 months time.
The sustainable town as viewed by the City Factory
How to limit the social and environmental impact of towns and their activities? To what extent might new types of community action and attitudes contribute to reducing our cities’ ecological footprint? How – and at what price – might we adapt our built heritage? These were just some of the many fundamental issues tackled at the City Factory’s second seminar. From 1-3 April last, forty experts (town planners, architects, researchers, politicians and representatives of the business community, etc.) and twenty VINCI managers met in Copenhagen (Denmark), at the initiative of this think tank created by VINCI, to consider: “Sustainable cities: from ideas to action”. Their discussions contributed to a sketching out of ways in which our towns might be transformed into ecological cities, and also looked at questions relating to governance, social inclusion and how urban space should be organised. Those present benefited from a preview of the results of a critical study of experimental sustainable neighbourhoods undertaken by Yamina Saheb, an engineer specialising in energy issues. Based on a survey of various examples of eco-neighbourhoods, such as Vesterbro in Copenhagen, Bed-Zed in London and Vauban in Fribourg, the author suggested a typical example of a sustainable neighbourhood – a very tangible contribution to the task of inventing the tomorrow’s city. After a first seminar focusing on mobility and a morning session devoted to the Greater Paris region in 2008, the City Factory thus confirmed its ambition to make a useful contribution to the debate on the future development of our towns. Its next meeting, a further regional morning session, is scheduled for October, in Lyons. For further information and to see the presentations: www.lafabriquedelacite.com
Winning double for SKE
The recent signing of two new contracts serves as confirmation of the expertise of SKE (VINCI Construction Filiales Internationales) in the construction and maintenance of schools. The first project, awarded by the American government, concerns the maintenance of 54 schools in Germany and Belgium belonging to the DoDDS (Department of Defense Dependents Schools) network in Europe. The contract was signed for a period of one year, is renewable four times, and is worth a total of €86m. In addition, SKE has been awarded an €81.4m public-private partnership contract by the city of Nuremberg (Germany) for the financing, construction, management and maintenance, for a period of 25 years, of four schools. The works relating to these two contracts were launched in March 2009.
Visiting the Rhine-Rhone LGV worksite
On 15 January, Yves-Thibault de Silguy, Chairman of the VINCI Board, and Hubert du Mesnil, Chairman of Réseau Ferré de France (RFF), visited the worksite of the future Rhine-Rhone high-speed line (LGV). This line, an essential future rail link between northern and southern Europe, is made up of three branches centred in the Dijon region: the eastern branch, between Dijon and Mulhouse; the western branch between Dijon and the Paris-Lyons LGV; and a southern branch linking the first two to Lyons. The visit focused on a stretch of the eastern branch, the first phase of the construction process: work is under way here on 140 km of the 190 km-long route. Eurovia’s railway arm is in charge of building 280 km of track (two tracks on a 140 km platform) and installing the associated catenaries. VINCI Construction subsidiaries (VINCI Construction Terrassement, GTM, Ménard et Weiler) are supplying the civil engineering works (earthworks, drainage, engineering structures, restoration of communication) along a 71 km section. Begun in 2006 and due for completion in late 2010, this project represents a combination of technical know-how, economic development, integration through employment and protection of the environment.
VINCI Airports lands in Quimper and stays on in Grenoble
On 18 December 2008, Brittany’s Regional Council awarded the consortium formed by VINCI Airports (VINCI Concessions), leader, and Keolis the contract to operate Quimper Cornouaille Airport. Created in 1932, this facility had previous been granted as a concession to the CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry). It handled 120,000 passengers in 2008 and offers a schedule of regular flights to Paris, as well as seasonal flights to tourist destinations, notably Corsica. The contract enters into force on 1st March 2009, for a period of six years and ten months. It will be in the form of a public service outsourcing contract for the operation, upkeep (including major repairs and replacement) and maintenance of the terminal, runways, equipment and commercial outlets. The airport’s 25 employees will join the Quimper Cornouaille Airport operating company, a subsidiary of VINCI Airports and Keolis. This success comes just a few days after the General Council in the département of Isère renewed the public service operation contract for the management of Grenoble-Isère international airport (photo), held by the VINCI Airports-Keolis consortium since 2004. The first example, since the advent of the decentralisation legislation, of a renewal of a public service outsourcing contract awarded to a private sector company for the management of an airport, this contract was signed on 28 November; it will enter into force on 1st January 2009, for a period of 14.5 years. During its first five years managing the airport, the VINCI Airports-Keolis consortium has tripled traffic there; looking to the future, its task will be to develop the facility for the benefit of the economy and tourism in the département of Isère. The contract includes a requirement for an investment of €6m, to finish bringing the airport’s infrastructure up to current standards and enhance the quality and reliability of the service provided; it also calls for the introduction of a public transport link between the airport and Grenoble city centre. It will be recalled that Chambéry-Savoie and Clermont- Ferrand – Auvergne airports are also managed by VINCI Airports and Keolis within the framework of public service outsourcing contracts.
Inauguration of the Clackmannanshire Bridge
Now officially named the Clackmannanshire Bridge, after the nearby district of Clackmannanshire, the new crossing over the River Forth at Kincardine, in Scotland, was inaugurated by the Scottish First Minister and opened to traffic on 19 November. This incrementally launched bridge, 1,200 metres long, took 29 months to complete; it provides a link between two major roads, to the north and south of the River Forth, and facilitates access to the town of Kincardine, located 40 km to the north-west of Edinburgh. It was built within the framework of a €145m design-build contract awarded to VINCI Construction Grands Projets, in a 50/50 joint venture with Morgan Est, by the Scottish Executive, the executive arm of government in Scotland. Apart from VINCI Construction Grands Projets, a number of other Group companies worked on this project, which also included 2-km access roads on either side of the bridge: Freyssinet (VINCI Construction) and its subsidiary Ménard, Bachy Soletanche, a subsidiary of Solétanche Bachy (VINCI Construction), and Bear Scotland, a subsidiary of Ringway (Eurovia).
Cairo metro Baptism of the TBM “Cleopatra”
700 m from the future Abassya underground station, the tunnel boring machine Cleopatra was baptised on 3 September last, at a ceremony attended by the Egyptian Prime Minister, Ahmed Nasif, the Minister for Transport, Mohamed Mansur, representatives of the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) and the consortium of contractors, headed by VINCI Construction Grands Projets. A start can now be made on the excavation works. The first of the four phases of the construction of Line 3 of the Cairo metro system is currently under way, involving the creation between now and 2010 of 4.5 km of tunnels and five underground stations between Abassya and Attaba. Once completed, the new line, more than 30 km long, will cross the capital from east to west, linking the airport, near Heliopolis, with the Mohandessin neighbourhood in Gizeh, on the left bank of the Nile.
Completion of the A87
On 3 July, the bypass round the south of La Roche-sur- Yon was inaugurated by Henri Stouff, Chairman of ASF, and Pierre Anjolras, CEO of ASF (VINCI Concessions), in the presence of Dominique Bussereau, French Minister responsible for Transport, and Philippe de Villiers, President of the General Council of the Vendée département. Handed over six months ahead of schedule, this 16 km section completes the 128.5 km motorway link between Angers and La Roche-sur-Yon. It involved two and a half years of works and an investment of €120 million, entirely funded by ASF, which holds the concession for this infrastructure. This has also been the biggest project involving hot Aspha-min® mix (55,000 t) ever undertaken by Eurovia. With the completion of this section, Les Sables-d’Olonne and the Vendée beaches on the west coast of France are just four hours drive from Paris. In total, the creation of the A87 Angers – La Roche-sur-Yon motorway has taken 10 years of works.
VINCI builds the visitor centre at the Château of Versailles in three months
“The contractual scheme we devised for the Hall of Mirrors was a prototype, but the construction of this pavilion shows that it can readily be replicated,” said Xavier Huillard, CEO of Vinci, at the signing of the sponsorship agreement between VINCI and the Établissement Public de Versailles on 1 April 2008. The challenge has now been met, with the pavilion opening to the public on 1 July. Vinci, which was given an AOT temporary occupation permit, acted as contracting authority for the works, which were primarily carried out by Group companies. The financial commitment was nearly €2 million. The pavilion, located in the main courtyard of the Château, was built to serve for a three-year period, during which the visitor reception areas will undergo final renovation. The temporary pavilion has all the requisite technical facilities for a public building and is also an original, and ambitious, work. It was designed by architects Yves Pagès and Benoît Le Thierry d’Ennequin of the Explorations Architecture firm, who explain that they “opted for an abstract, sculptural, harmonious, respectful and modest structure.” The pavilion’s wide entrance is extended by an interior space that becomes progressively narrower to channel the substantial numbers of people (nearly 5 million per year) who visit the site. Since the structure is temporary, lightweight materials had to be used, but the quality requirement called for them to be harmonised. The pavilion is therefore built of steel, glass and wood. The concrete foundations were cast over a plastic film to protect the cobblestones of the courtyard, which were not to be removed, except in a few isolated cases. CBC Service (VINCI Construction) was in charge of the envelope and joinery works packages and worked with Eiffel to set up the metal structure and the glass panels in three weeks. Teams from Satob, another VINCI Construction subsidiary, then installed a cladding of wood slats to shield visitors from direct sunlight. Sdel ITT (VINCI Energies) was, for its part, in charge of the electrical and ventilation-heating works packages. Overall, about 50 people took part in the project, with everyone working toward the shared goal of handing over a high-quality structure in record time. At a press conference held on 30 June, the day before the structure was opened to the public, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, President of the Établissement Pubic de Versailles, said: “The generosity and commitment of the VINCI Group are exemplary and very gratifying. The Group mobilised its expertise to meet the challenge of building a contemporary structure in record time.”