La Halle de Pantin, covered market for building professionals

La Halle de Pantin, a unique center for building materials distribution to professionals

La Halle de Pantin is a solid illustration of Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France’s commitment to supporting and helping its customers improve their efficiency. The center:

• Provides a comprehensive range of available products and services – The 10 brands present have been selected for their ability to meet the needs of the majority of building professionals, both specialists and general contractors. There are 100,000 product references, an 8,200 sq. m of self-service display area, 18,000 sq. m stock warehousing in a 35,000 sq. m building
• Saves time and improves efficiency – Located at one of the gateways to Paris, with extended opening hours (6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and to 6 p.m. on Saturday) and 11,000 sq. m of undercover parking, La Halle de Pantin is accessible and practical. It employs 110 people to welcome, assist and advise customers.
• Simplifies professionals’ day-to-day work – Alongside the brands, La Halle de Pantin also provides its customers with many additional services, such as a 2.0 cafeteria, free Wi-Fi, a VNG (Vehicle Natural Gas) station (opens end 2015), electric vehicle charging terminals, food trucks at lunchtime, equipment rentals (Kiloutou) and even a waste drop-off service (in 2016).

A showcase for Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France and its brands

La Halle de Pantin reflects Saint-Gobain’s strategy. The 10 brands provide a comprehensive range of products and services to help make buildings:

• Energy-efficient with products covering the building structure, envelope, roofing, insulation, woodwork, space heating, ventilation, etc.
• Durable and comfortable to live in thanks to solutions in the areas of home automation, lighting, products improving accessibility and enabling senior citizens and special needs people to remain in their homes, etc.
• Environmentally friendly by providing solutions for wastewater treatment, drinking water distribution, external finishing, urban landscaping, etc.

Unparalleled eco-responsible refurbishment

Europe’s first undercover market specifically for building trades professionals is part of the “Local Pantin” regeneration plan, the main aim of which is to move from the current single-business activity in the rail sector by creating a neighborhood combining a range of business activities and housing.

The site was originally used for “fast freight forwarding” and was designed and built between 1946 and 1949 by architect and engineer Paul Peirani and engineer Bernard Laffaille. Its refurbishment, supervised by architect Norbert Brail and engineering firm Becice, involved a systematic approach to ensure this commercial building’s integration into its surrounding urban environment, while also minimizing its energy and environmental footprint. It is a concrete illustration of the strategy applied by Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France in these areas. 

The building is comprised of three large adjoining industrial buildings: the first is open to foot traffic and customer vehicles with 150 car parks, the second houses the brands and the third is reserved for logistics and warehousing. Together they have a footprint of 35,000 sq. m on a site measuring almost 55,000 sq. m.

La Halle de Pantin has been designed to be:

• An energy-efficient building 

La Halle de Pantin’s energy performance is five times better than the requirements of the French RT 2012 Commercial Buildings standard. Thermal dynamics simulation was used to optimize all aspects of the building (reduce the loss and impact of air renewal, air tightness, etc.), to provide optimum operation energy comfort and performance. La Halle de Pantin is certified at the “Design” level of France’s HQE Renovation standard and has BBC Renovation certification. It also complies with Saint-Gobain’s CARE:4^® “Company Actions for Reduction of Energy by 4” program (it is the sixth Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France project to be awarded this certification), and finally has also been awarded Saint-Gobain’s Multi-Comfort label.

• A building that is sustainability integrated into the urban fabric 

In conjunction with the MNHN French Museum of Natural History, Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France has incorporated the La Halle de Pantin project into a 12,450 sq. m landscaped area including the following:

- Water treatment and recovery - La Halle de Pantin has zero discharge into the wastewater network. One hundred percent of the site’s wastewater is treated using a plant-based pond treatment system.

- Emphasis on biodiversity - The fauna and flora choices reflect a concerted urban ecology approach by creating a useful ecosystem and protecting the essential natural heritage. This base provides living comfort and helps combat urban “heat islands.”

- Teaching space - An educational pathway is open to the general public, especially school groups, and is designed to encourage awareness and studies of biodiversity and natural cycles.

• A building synonymous with social responsibility 

The refurbishment project for La Halle de Pantin was also an opportunity for Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France to sign a partnership agreement with the “Est Ensemble” local community authority for the implementation of a “Passerelle Entreprise” program to assist people into paid employment. As a result, 13 people were selected and underwent training toward achieving a safety management and aptitude certificate, 12 of whom are now employed by the various brands operating at La Halle de Pantin. Finally, 10 open-ended vocational integration contracts were signed for the duration of the refurbishment work.

For more information, log onto website and read the press release (in French only).