Press release

21/09/2009 - The future building of the Bordeaux Urban Community: The Fayat – Cofely (GDF SUEZ) consortium chosen with an exemplary environmental approach

The Fayat construction and public works group, Cofely (GDF SUEZ Group) and the Babcock & Brown investment firm, acting in a consortium, have just signed a public private partnership (PPP) with the Bordeaux Urban Community (CUB) covering the design, construction, financing and operation of this new building on rue Jean-Fleuret in Bordeaux.

An environmental response for a “pioneer” building in France
This building is intended to bring together the offices of more than 350 employees who are currently scattered over several sites. This 9-story administrative building with 3 underground parking levels will be the first positive energy building in the Bordeaux metropolitan area. The work is to begin in March 2010 for delivery at the end of 2011 after 20 months of work. This will be a challenge for the consortium.

As of the beginnings of the project carried out by SOMIFA (Real Estate Development Company of the Fayat Group) in collaboration with the Bordeaux architecture firm BDM and the IOSIS engineering firm, an environmental approach seemed to be essential to the members of the consortium in terms of the architectural thinking and the construction processes as well as in the maintenance and operation of the building. The objectives defined for this new structure include optimizing resources, reducing the environmental impact as much as possible, and implementing new “clean” technologies.

For its part, Cofely fully played its role as consultant within the consortium and contributed its experience and expertise to the energy efficiency of the building and service integration. Its services cover the multi-technical maintenance of the building with service continuity 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.  For Cofely, this contract represents revenues of 4.3 million euros over the duration of the PPP.

1,210 m2 of “solar” panels for 8,300 m2 of positive energy offices
Close to 1,210 m2 of photovoltaic panels will outfit the roofs and façades to produce 136,000 kWh per year.
The most efficient techniques in terms of ventilation, insulation, heating, air cooling and lighting, will contribute, among other things, to obtaining the certification NF Service Sector Buildings –HQE Approach ® and the BBC Effinergie label (low consumption building).

A 20-year public private partnership contract
The use of a public private partnership, formalized with an administrative emphyteutic lease, gives the CUB the use of the building and its associated services without needing to seek investment. The institution will pay an annual rent and will become the owner of the complex at the end of the PPP, in the 20th year. However, the entire photovoltaic production will be sold to EDF, generating financial income, which will be fully deducted from the rent. The operation represents private investment of 24 million euros not including taxes.

An innovative and comprehensive sustainable development approach
With this project, the CUB is taking a totally innovative approach in coherency with the objectives of the Grenelle 1 law in terms of energy and environmental efficiency. The CUB thus specifically addresses the three objectives that define sustainable development:

• the environmental dimension: the use of renewable energy such as photovoltaic panels reduces CO2 emissions into the atmosphere compared with a gas solution.
• the economic dimension: including in a single comprehensive contract the design, construction and maintenance assignments over the long term leads to economic optimization of the entire project and eliminates interface risks for the public partner.
• the societal dimension: the grouping of 350 employees at one site demonstrates a desire for rationality and efficiency between departments. Moreover, the architectural design and the dedicated services in this exemplary building offer all employees ideal conditions in terms of work environment, ergonomics and service quality.

Fayat, a multi-trade group in construction and industry
Fayat, founded in 1957, is the premier French family group working in the construction and industry sector.
Its expertise in taking quality of life into account reflects its commitment to local authorities and companies in designing both simple structures and complex infrastructure. With its strategic choices and the complementarity of its trades, FAYAT is reinforcing its position in major work projects with an on-going commitment to public private partnership contracts stimulated by local authorities’ growing needs for facilities. For major projects, it forms dedicated companies associating the investor partners, united in their objectives and fully complementary in terms of their competencies. Acting as both developer and promoter of new projects, FAYAT deploys services to optimize the operation of the infrastructures for which it is the concessionaire, in a spirit of responsible public service delegation.

Fayat
FAYAT, with a presence in more than 100 countries and with the involvement of 16,000 employees, works in France and throughout the world to provide efficient technical solutions in: construction and public works, metallic construction, electricity, road construction equipment, handling equipment and sheet metal. In 2008, the group had 2.3 billion euros of consolidated revenues.
With the professionalism of its teams, its solid financial base, and the support of its clients, FAYAT looks to the future with determination and has the strengths it needs to ensure its own development.

Cofely
Cofely, an energy and environmental efficiency services company, was formed from the merger of Cofathec Services and Elyo. As the European Leader on its market, Cofely designs, implements and operates solutions that allow companies and local authorities to use energy better and to reduce their environmental impact. Cofely applies its know-how in three fields:

• Improving the energy and environmental efficiency of buildings;
• Production, operation and distribution of local and renewable energy;
• Service integration.
  Cofely has 13,600 employees and had revenues of 3.4 billion euros in France in 2008.

Cofely is part of GDF SUEZ Energie Services, the European leader in multi-technical services, with revenues of 14 billion euros in 2008 and 80,000 employees. GDF SUEZ Energie Services is one of the six business branches of GDF SUEZ, one of the foremost energy companies in the world.

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