Elcimaï Delivers Safran Data Systems' New Aerospace Industrial Site
Elcimaï has just completed the expansion of the site in La Teste de Buch (33) where Safran Data Systems designs and manufactures antenna systems for Earth observation and flight testing. The project, which took one year to complete and was carried out while the site remained operational, required the full extent of the company’s expertise. This construction project is fully aligned with France’s reindustrialization efforts and the government’s “Pack Rebond” initiative.
Safran Reaffirms Its Confidence in Elcimaï
Following the sites in Buchelay (78), Commercy (55), Le Creusot (71), and Bordes (64), Safran has once again placed its trust in the Elcimaï teams to design and build the expansion of the production facility for its subsidiary, Safran Data Systems, in La Teste de Buch, near Arcachon.
The company specializes in the manufacture and distribution of high-tech products and solutions for aerospace and defense applications. The La Teste de Buch facility designs and manufactures antenna systems for Earth observation and flight testing.
Elcimaï has just completed an industrial building with 3,900 m² of floor space on a site subject to physical and regulatory constraints (the Arcachon airfield, a skydiving club, and a Natura 2000 protected wooded area).
Construction work in occupied buildings requiring specialized expertise
Connected to the existing structure, the new building includes a 2,000 m² technical hall for the assembly and integration of antennas, with a parapet height of 11.50 m.
Notable technical features of the site include a wiring workshop, a 20-metric-ton overhead crane, a clamping pit, and a transformer for the entire site. Special technical solutions were implemented for the floor slab to allow for the installation of specific pits required for Safran Data Systems’ manufacturing process.
The project scope included industrial networks—pneumatic, electrical, IT, heating, and air conditioning systems—as well as site security (surveillance cameras, badge-based access control, etc.).
“The project, carried out at an occupied site without interrupting operations—which involved, in particular, rerouting existing utility lines and reviewing the electrical power requirements for the building and processes—gave Elcimaï the opportunity to demonstrate the full extent of its expertise.”
says Christophe Chauvet, Managing Partner for Development at Elcimaï
The expansion also includes 1,900 m² of administrative and technical office space, separated by a fire wall, which will feature open-plan design offices, among other facilities. A 200-space parking lot equipped with electric vehicle charging stations has also been planned.
A rooftop system to maintain a consistent temperature year-round
A quiet monobloc air conditioning unit is installed on the roof of the room to be cooled.
Although it is suitable only for large, open-plan spaces without partitions, this rooftop unit offers the advantage of housing all the equipment necessary for operation within a single enclosure, without the need for electrical or HVAC connections.
Air is supplied through perforated circular ducts with a very high induction rate. A compressed air system has also been installed to meet the process’s needs.
Workplace environment and well-being are taken into account from the project’s initial design phase
The entire expansion complies with RT 2012 standards. Special attention was paid to safety, environmental protection, health, and workplace well-being, which were taken into account from the design phase of all infrastructure, in accordance with Safran Data Systems’ OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certifications.
For example, the architects at the Elcimaï Group designed a central atrium and glass panels in the industrial hall to maximize natural light.
The project, which was completed after a year of construction despite the health crisis, involved several teams from the Elcimaï Group, including those in Melun, Toulouse, and Chambéry.
Local, well-established companies were given priority to carry out the work.
Project details:
- Area : 3,900 m²
- Start of construction : January 2019
- Delivery : early 2021
- Client : Safran Data Systems
- Assistant Project Manager : François Lamotte
Design and Implementation Scope :
- Developer : Elcimaï Réalisations
- Project Management : Elcimaï Engineering and Architecture
- Construction Site Monitoring : Elcimaï Environnement