CEMEX Delivers Sustainable Construction Solutions for Three Next-Generation Commercial Developments in France

CEMEX’s sustainable products and solutions contributed to the construction of three different, eco-friendly commercial developments in Beauvais and Lyon, France. Our solutions for the distinctive environmental demands of these different projects exemplify CEMEX’s commitment to achieving sustainable development and build a better future.

In the historic city of Beauvais, CEMEX trucks travelled night and day to deliver up to 500 cubic meters (more than 650 cubic yards) per day of concrete for Jeu-de-Paume shopping center in the heart of the city. The next-generation center is BREEAM certified, a European building standard that measures sustainability. Featuring 86 shops and 900 below ground parking spaces, the multi-level shopping center required six cranes, seven unloading points, and over 140,000 construction hours to build the general structure in just nine months. An interesting element of the construction was the preservation of an arched 13th-century bridge, part of Gallo-Roman ruins that were discovered in the area and incorporated into the warm, contemporary design of this commercial center—helping to build a sustainable future, while preserving the past.

In the city of Lyon, CEMEX successfully met different challenges to facilitate the sustainable construction of two high-performance office complexes.

For the construction of “Seven,” a seven-story, energy-efficient office complex in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement, strong requirements were placed not only on the future environmental performance of the building, but also on controlling energy consumption during the entire construction process. With the goal of qualifying for HQE certification, France´s high environmental performance standard, as well as the BBC label for low-energy consumption buildings, the project specifically required that CO₂ emissions must be significantly reduced compared to conventional construction sites. To meet this constraint and limit the use of natural resources in its concrete production, the CEMEX team developed a formula using components with low energy consumption; particularly, a supplementary cementitious material was used as a binder.

CEMEX also delivered 200 cubic meters (more than 260 cubic yards) of stabilized, reinforced sand to create 1,900 square meters (more than 20,450 square feet) of pathways interconnecting the offices, auditorium, meeting rooms, and catering and caretakers’ facilities of the HQE-certified Plastic Omnium office complex. This proprietary reinforced, stabilized sand is unusual in that it partially consists of recycled glass, which limits its environmental footprint. The main challenge in creating this product is controlling the humidity. For optimum implementation, it must be neither too dry nor too wet. No expansion joints are needed because cracks disappear by themselves thanks to the product’s specific consistency. With its natural sand color, exceptional durability, and incorporation of recycled materials, this user-friendly solution highlights CEMEX’s focus on delivering high-quality, sustainably developed products and services.

With more and more architects and project managers interested in specialty solutions and new manufacturing techniques designed to reduce CO₂ emissions, CEMEX is not only meeting the environmental requirements of these projects, but also reinforcing its commitment to achieving sustainable development throughout its operations.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries. Celebrating its 110th anniversary, CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future.