Large-scale building projects in Antibes Juan-les-Pins

Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council looks to the future as it embarks upon several large-scale building projects which were recently featured in an exhibition at the Palais dès Congrès. These forward-thinking plans ensure that various venues in the town will be both up-to-date and functional while also observing sustainable development standards.

All the greatly diverse projects which encompass sport, entertainment, culture, roads and thoroughfares, employment and business have one common aim: that of improving the daily life of residents in Antibes Juan-les-Pins.

To bring these projects to fruition in the most efficient and economically viable way possible, Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council has the constant support of the Sophia Antipolis Community Agglomeration, the Regional Council and the State, an active contributor to the Antibes Juan-les-Pins Reflation Plan. The building projects are dynamic in their vision, respect the environment and are heedful of the needs and wishes of residents in Antibes Juan-les-Pins.

The Council is also engaged in other small-scale work projects that pursue this policy of improving quality of life, facilitating traffic flow around the town and providing viable accommodation. All important factors to consider for the economic, cultural and sporting future of Antibes Juan-les-Pins.

The contemporary architectural design reflects the dynamism of a town that looks towards the future.

The architecture of the new Palais dès Congrès is resolutely contemporary and the structure is perfectly situated at the heart of a green corridor between Square Bechet and the Pinède.

The new centre in Juan-les-Pins will stimulate year-round economic activity in the tourism sector. The 6,500 square metres allotted to the new Palais dès Congrès by the Council will provide space for 500 conference or congress visitors in optimal conditions. There are also to be small and medium-size commercial premises available on an area of 7,500 square metres, as well as an underground car park with 375 parking places to respond to the needs of the site and provide more parking in Juan-les-Pins.

The decision to involve a private partner, selected after bids were entered, was taken as being the most judicial solution to reduce the initial cost of investment in the project by the Council. The company selected (IMFINED) therefore is charged with the design and construction and the global financing of the operation, followed by the management of businesses on the site and the car park for a period of 50 years. The Palais dès Congrès will then be at the disposition of the Council who may either manage it or delegate the management.

The underground car park has 375 parking places on four levels and a top-of-the-range food hall. Access will be by a “majestic” hallway.
On the ground floor, a brasserie will provide a convivial link with the exterior. All the shops will be spacious, some on two floors and there will also be areas for relaxing and entertainment.
At the summit, the area of the Palais dès Congrès will be 6,500 square metres which will contain a plenary hall and committee and exhibition rooms.
There will be a restaurant with a breathtaking panoramic view of the beach resort and the sea. The shopping area will contribute to the attractiveness of the future building as well as providing a lively atmosphere.

Financing Initial investment cost of the total operation: 55 million euros before tax
Cost of initial investment for Palais dès Congrès: 22.4 million euros before tax
Cost of initial investment to the Council: approximately 7.3 million euros before tax, representing one third of cost of the Palais dès Congrès.
Work Schedule
Spring 2010: reception of administrative authorisation comprising a building permit
Autumn 2010: start of building work
End 2012: completion

Resembling a triangular space vessel with a pebble-shaped roof that shelters the large arena, the sports centre will be situated in the north of the town on the former archery range land. A strategic position as it is close to the motorway and on the projected CASA bus route linking Antibes centre and the Sophia Antipolis Technopolis.

With a capacity of 5,000 seats, this state-of-the-art 21st century centre will be designed with a basketball court configuration and the multisports centre will serve the OAJLP in conformity with Pro A and Pro B standards. Equipped with retractable stands, the “cauldron” can be used for different sporting events. The complex will stage tennis, hand-ball and trampoline international competitions. A trampoline room and a dojo are incorporated in the design.

The cauldron is a room with 5,000 seats that is equipped for various sporting events with 1,000 square metres of trampoline area.

HQE High Quality Environment and Equipped with photovoltaic panels, the centre will produce half of the energy it consumes.

A shining cultural beacon visible from the town, the port and the hills.

Constructed on the site of the former Salle Bunoz, the future Sophia Antipolis Community Agglomeration entertainment centre will have a 1,300 seat capacity. There will be a grand auditorium with 200 seats and an underground car park with 280 parking places. A great variety of shows can be staged in the centre such as dance, singing, theatre and pop concerts.

A true cultural beacon of Sophia Antipolis Community Agglomeration, because of its situation the entertainment centre will be visible from the town, the port and the surrounding hills. The new venue is a major cultural asset for audiences.
Facing towards Avenue Jules Grec, the centre has a forecourt in contrasting mineral colours. The lines of the building are symbolic and the architectural design links it with the historic town and the port with Fort Carré overlooking it.

Principally glass on the ground floor, the outside walls are textured and in tones that reflect variations of lighting.

The centre shines out like a beacon on sporting and cultural events
Enclosed between the Antibes swimming centre and the fire station, the entertainment centre is on an area of 2,350 square metres of floor space and 9,319 SHON.
The area around it could be used for other cultural venues and it is possible that the future Municipal Conservatory will be situated here.

The theatre in the centre has been designed to provide the best possible visibility of the stage for audiences. The distance from the last row to the stage is limited to 30 metres. The acoustics have been carefully designed in order that all live shows can be staged in the centre with the use of sound equipment, reflectors and special materials used in the construction of the theatre.
All forms of theatrical events can be staged in the hall due to the strong synergy between the different levels of the centre. A brasserie on the ground floor and a reception area on the top floor provide the necessary facilities for such a centre.

Theatre capacity Stalls: 754 seats, Balcony: 522 seats, Gallery: 78 seats Total: 1,354 seats

Note:The small theatre in the first configuration has a capacity of 200 seats.
In the second configuration, with the stands removed the surface area is increased by 17 metres by 22 metres, equal in size to the stage in the large theatre and suitable for rehearsals in optimal conditions.

Financing 30 million euros before taxCASA management work project
Partners:
Alpes Maritimes Regional Council
PACA Regional Council
The State
Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council
Work Schedule
Start of construction: 1st trimester 2009.
Completion schedule: 18 months

Financing
Cost of project including taxes: €18,000,000
Subsidies:
Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council:€1, 500,000 and €1,500,000 refundable in advance.
Department: €5,200,000
State Regional Contract Plan: €2,125,000
National Fund for Support and Independence: €4,500,000
Hospital: €3,175,000 on loan
Work Schedule
Completion scheduled end 2011

A mother-and-child centre to be constructed
The new centre for mothers and children, as well as other related structures, is to be situated next to the current maternity unit. This innovative addition situated on the ground floor, will be in the same area as the maternity ward and the neonatal and paediatric sections.



There will be a day centre on the first floor of the building with specialists in oncology as well as the opthamological surgery unit and ORL. This extension is on an area of 4,500 square metres and it will also have a reception area that will serve all the departments. The entrance will be from the 4 Chemins roundabout.

Financing
Global cost of project: 16 million euros including taxes.
Ministerial aid (Hospital Plan 2012) €400,000 annually.
Financing: Antibes Hospital
Work Schedule
Completion scheduled in first six months of 2012.

Palliative Care Unit to look after the sick
In the same area as the future retirement home, a second centre is to be built which will be the Palliative Care Unit (USP), dedicated to helping the sick at the end of their lives.


This unit, which is one of the first of its kind in France, will be situated on two levels with 12 beds for complete hospitalisation and there are to be six places in a day centre.

The unit is designed for personalised quality care for each patient by a multi-discipline team of staff and also comprises external consultation.

The Palliative Care Unit will also be a training centre for health care staff to learn about this very human approach which constitutes palliative care.

Financing
Global cost of project: 4 million euros including taxes.
Antibes Hospital; 2 million euros
Health Ministry Subsidy: 2 million euros
Work Schedule
Completion scheduled end 2011.

Cap d'Antibes School equipped with high technology