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Factory 8

Extension of a furniture factory.

The project is part of an expansion strategy for the Fournier brand, which aimed to increase its production capacity. The factory, now extended by more than 20,000 m², includes a large production hall and rack storage areas reaching up to 12 meters in height. It enables the manufacturing of decorative panels, custom storage units, facades, and more.

Given the strict construction standards required for the factory, our design-build teams (Autumn | Patriarche) faced a significant technical challenge, particularly regarding fire stability.

These technical constraints, combined with our commitment to low-carbon buildings (as recommended by our Building Environmental Quality division), led us to opt for a timber structure. This choice is also consistent with the project, as wood is one of Fournier’s most widely used raw materials.

Client : Fournier

Location : Alex, France

Size : 20 000 m²

Status : Delivered

Date : 2023

Key points

Low-carbon building.
Timber frame.
Project in a seismic zone.

Download the project sheet

A challenge in timber structure design

The building, located in one of the snowiest and most seismic zones in France, required careful consideration of the structure to ensure stability while resisting seismic shocks.

The overall structure was therefore built using pendular frames: concrete columns, hinged at the top and bottom, support glued laminated timber rafters with variable inertia.

The workshop, adjoining the warehouse, consists of concrete columns fixed at the base, supporting a glued laminated timber frame. This frame is designed with long beams spanning 24 meters, using rafters. It is very rare to find timber structures with spans of this length. Around the perimeter, timber columns support the structure, and timber bracing panels help provide part of the stability.

To ensure the stability of the structure, we chose to use timber diagonals forming wind beams and bracing panels. The longest of these beams measures 60 meters in length.

Team

Patriarche (Architecture, Building Environmental Quality, BIM, Urban Planning, Landscape)
Autumn | Patriarche (General Contractor)
Partners:
Plantier

Credits

Program

Industrial

Yuri

Notre Dame de Paris