OREANDA-NEWS. Alstom Transport on Thursday 8 October 2015 inaugurated the installation of its Villeurbanne site in the new building in Carre de Soie district. The inauguration took place in the presence of Gerard Collomb, Senator-Mayor of Lyon and President of the Lyon Metropolitan Area, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Transport, Stephanie Paix, President of the Management Board of Caisse d’Epargne Rhene-Alpes, Renaud Haberkorn, President of the Management Board of ANF Immobilier, Didier Caudard-Breille, President and founder of DCB International, and Jean-Paul Bret, Mayor of Villeurbanne.

AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT IN THE HEART OF THE LYON METROPOLITAN AREA

After two years of construction work, the new building, which has been baptised Epsilon, opened its doors in mid-August 2015 to the entire population of employees specialised in the design and supply of electrical systems and products for trains and railway signalling. Designed by SUD Architectes, Epsilon is built on two underground levels. The programme has created a usable surface area of 36,900m2 composed of:

  • offices
  • test laboratories
  • manufacturing workshops
  • a logistics hall
  • a company restaurant with a capacity for 1200 people per sitting

Previously based in the Bel-Air district of Villeurbanne, Alstom Transport is extending its foothold in the Lyon metropolitan area, thus confirming its ambition to contribute to the economical and social development of the French regions. This is highlighted by the decision to implant the site in the heart of Lyon’s fourth business district and that of the property developer DCB International to carry out this project, in association with investors ANF Immobilier (65%), Caisse d’Epargne Rh?ne-Alps (30%) and DCB Partners.

AN EXEMPLARY BUILDING FOR A SUSTAINABLE

Epsilon is the first building in France to obtain the dual certification HQE and BREEAM Very Good, incorporating the parameters of the RT 2012 Thermal Regulations3. It provides optimal levels of comfort for employees, using 15% less energy than a standard new building.This is ensured by a centralized guidance system which activates the blinds depending on the amount of sunlight, modifies the lighting according to external luminosity, and monitors energy consumption levels (heating, air conditioning, hot water, lighting). Rainwater is recovered and used to water green spaces, as is the energy created through lift operation. Employees also have access to recharging stations for electric cars and bike-parks at every entrance.

Epsilon thus reflects the ambitions of the different actors of the project: innovate today to adapt to the needs of tomorrow. In this respect, Alstom Transport designs services, equipment and rail systems to reduce distances while guaranteeing a maximum level of security for passengers. DCB International designs buildings that areresistant to time, respect the environment and anticipate the future needs of users. Finally, ANF Immobilier invests in the most dynamic regional metropolitan areas where it makes a strong contribution to emerging districts destined to become the city centres of tomorrow - sustainable districts in which everyone can live, work and evolve.