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setec opency is pleased to present this book on the construction of the STEEL shopping center.
A cornerstone of the major urban redevelopment project at the entrance to Saint-Étienne, STEEL, a project led by Apsys, will transform a severely run-down site into a place for living, shopping and leisure that will enhance the local area.
A 70,000 m² “shopping resort” with 37,000 m² of landscaped green spaces, STEEL features emblematic architecture and design, for which setec opency provided its expertise in scheduling, scheduling and coordination, from design studies through to completion. Our staff also managed the inter-company prorata account, which led to BREEAM certification, a method for assessing the environmental performance of buildings.
This 4-year adventure is summarized on page 106 in an interview with Jean-Yves Crocombette, Director of setec opency’s South-East Division.
Interview with Jean-Yves Crocombette, Director of Pôle Sud-Est at setec setec opency
Can you introduce your company?
setec opency is a subsidiary of the setec group specializing in site organization, coordination, planning and management of the largest and most complex building and infrastructure construction projects. For 50 years, we’ve been supporting project owners, and have become the leading company in France in this discipline, which is separate from project management.
Our motto is “Service and Commitment”. First and foremost with the client, and just as much with our project partners, from start to finish.
Our primary added value lies in the design phase: structuring, planning, organizing, phasing, putting in place the right tools and common rules for studies and works, including management of the “prorata account”.
What are the specificities of an SCMC mission in the context of shopping center construction, compared to other infrastructures?
What’s special is the need for flexibility, but with rigor and responsiveness. Scheduling is very precise, and there are many interfaces with the work of the tenants, so as to deliver the empty shell on time.
There’s a lot more commercial work with the customer and the design team to deal with modifications right up to the last minute. Our specificity of anticipation and vigilance of our pilots is very active with the implementation of Lean Construction methods.
What makes this an exceptional project?
It’s the majestic architecture and the sheer size of the structures, compared with the construction timescales, that make it exceptional. The prefabrication of the concrete elements and the tonnage of the steel framework are substantial, and the assembly of the over-covering mesh was particularly acrobatic and complicated in terms of scheduling. The density of the landscaped areas to be built simultaneously on the entire site also added unusual organizational and zoning features.
What were the main difficulties you encountered and how did you overcome them?
The main difficulties arose from the need for all trades to work simultaneously on the entire site. To deal with this, we broke down and subdivided the site into separate units, consolidating their interdependence. In this way, we were able to support our customer in his final modifications by treating the structures concerned in isolation.
“Enjoy your reading and see you soon on our sites”.
