AGORA | 2022

AGORA is the cornerstone of a series of renovations to provide the National Veterinary School of Alfort campus (10 hectares) with state-of-the-art teaching and research tools. This iconic training facility is listed in the supplementary register of historical monuments and has just celebrated its 250th anniversary.

Built on the site of the Brion building dating from the late 1920s, the AGORA project (4,500 m²) occupies a central location on the site, not only because of its location but also because of its program. The Art-Deco aspects of the Brion building dating from 1928, have been preserved and fit perfectly into the architectural sequence of the building as well as the campus.

Imagined by EnvA as a unitary and unifying building that brings together students, administrative staff, and teachers, the Agora sets an example for the campus, as it is the first building with a bio sourced structure. Indeed, except for the central core, the project gives pride of place to wood construction, penetrating even the most domestic of spaces with sensory touches.

From the competition phase, the project embraced a virtuous approach by leveraging “already-there” materials to enhance quality, respect heritage, and ensure continuity. The ecological concerns also extend to the reuse of the bricks of the Brion building, which has been partly dismantled, as well as to the conservation of the northern façades of the building and of the whole of its rubble stone foundations. The ensuing dialogue between old and new bricks helps to engage the Agora building in an authentic and calming harmony with the neighboring buildings from which it draws its inspiration and deference.

Imagined as an “iconic” place by its future users, the AGORA will provide accommodation on three levels: six teaching rooms that can be modularised by means of suspended mobile walls, two amphitheaters with wooden stands seating 250 people each, collaborative workspaces, and an 80-seat amphitheater for the continuing education of professionals, a multi-purpose room for training on mannequins (Vet’Sims), all of the school’s administrative services, as well as a logistical and storage area in the basement.

The architectural team has endeavored to sublimate the (re)generative potential of the Agora by proposing places of expression and conviviality, which are relatively rare on the scale of the campus. Emphasis was placed on the presence of recesses and nooks, continuity, and visual outlets to informal usage spaces generating interactions between users.

This strategy showcased a commitment to resource conservation and heritage preservation while achieving architectural and environmental excellence.

To overcome the challenges of using structural timber instead of steel and concrete, innovation was essential to expand timber’s traditional applications.

Initially, the proposed solution, a timber load-bearing structure with solid brick cladding, was rendered non-compliant with updated May 2019 standards (NF DTU 31.2 P 21-204-1-1 and NF DTU 20.1).

To address this, the project team obtained approval for an “ATEX case B” procedure, specific to the AGORA project, allowing the use of a double brick masonry wall on a timber frame.

The AGORA project was awarded the Grand Prix of the “Trophée Séquence Bois” in 2023 and was a winner of the Regional Timber Construction Prize for Île-de-France in the “Rehabilitate a Facility” category.

Category:Schools and UniversitiesLocation:FranceArchitect: Kevin Guidoux, FranceArchitecture Office:ArtBuildLead Architects:Kevin GuidouxDesign Team: Alexandra Carpiuc, Hanmo ZhangContractor:Créatis, CruardProject Management:Kevin Guidoux Client: Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA)Photographer: Tristan Deschamps