Cortambert Newsletter. Volume 6, May 2018

International School of Paris

45 rue Cortambert, 75016 Paris

Architect's Update #6

1. Architectural Fit-Outs - Flooring

April 2018

One of the major activities during the month of April for the architectural fit-outs was the flooring in the different rooms and classes. The layout of the wooden floor in the main lobby and the media center was completed and then sanded. The layer of varnish was applied, and it was then protected to allow the rest of the work in that area to proceed.

The classroom, corridor and watering hole floors were covered with soft vinyl flooring. While remaining compliant with resistance and acoustic criteria, they vary in texture and resistance depending on its use as classroom flooring, laboratory flooring, or design and tech flooring.

Large strips of soft vinyl flooring are layed and cut to the room shape.

…then heated at the edges for a perfect implementation.

The wooden floor of the drama room was also installed. It was glued onto an acoustic resilient directly on the floor slab, as joists cannot be used on the finished level of the underground floor in general. It will also be sanded and varnished.

Wooden flooring in the Drama Room is glued on acoustic resilient.

All surfaces of the wooden flooring is then sanded.

2. Architectural Fit-Outs - Doors
April 2018

Doors were then installed in each room upon completion of the flooring. They were set in height per the finished flooring level, and to match the door frame, previously mounted in the wall.

The doors on campus were divided into several types: fireproof doors for the classrooms and offices; the DAS fireproof doors for the stairwells to secure the evacuation route in case of a fire in the building, and the regular doors for sanitary, storage, and technical rooms.

The fireproof doors look like regular doors, though their components for the frame and the leaf (the opening part of the door) are reinforced in full wood panels and inter alia steel sheets. Veneer finishes help achieve the desired door appearance. Matching the wooden veneer aspect of the fire proof doors and the surrounding wooden cladded walls of the central lobby on Building V upper ground floor, was rather a challenge.

Clementine class doors in X Building

Wood veneer doors in V Building

The fireproof doors of the stairwells are labelled DAS (Dispositif Actionné de Sécurité). DAS is a mechanism allowing an open door to close in case of a fire, protecting anything behind the door. The door leaf is kept open with an electromagnet fixed to the wall. In case of a fire, the fire detector sends a signal to the central fire alarm panel which cuts power to the electromagnet, releasing the opened door leaf, pushed by an overhead door closer.

Fireproof door components

The electromagnet on the wall releases the door leaf when a fire is detected, closing the door.

Upon completion of the construction and prior the opening of the school, a Security Commission, led by the city fire department, will conduct trials in the building simulating a fire situation and will check if all DAS doors operate properly. The fireproof DAS doors will be periodically checked.

3. Architectural Fit-Outs - Carpentry
April 2018

Artistic carpentry work was conducted in the upper ground floor middle hallway, to restore ancient existing woodwork, in compliance with contemporary building construction rules and regulations. Wooden cladding was similarly restored on the frames of the newly installed fireproof doors of the main stairwell and Media Center. The existing Corian reception desk was adapted to a size appropriate to the lobby and in consideration of walking space.

Carpentry restauration of the wood cladded walls in V Building

The lobby welcome desk is set to dimension

4. Architectural Trades - Handrails, Railings and Balustrades
April 2018

The metalworkers are installing the handrails and railings in the stairwells. These elements in black steel will be painted to the desired color. The stone balustrade on the 1st floor science lab balcony in V Building did not meet the regulatory height to permit the terrace to be accessible to the public. It had to be raised with a security glass fixed on the existing stone with stainless steel circular brackets. The use of the transparent glass, discreetly mounted with the use of minimal size brackets, keep the stone balustrade's character.

Steel handrail in X Building stairwell lobby

The V Building's stone balustrade and its security glass heightening

5. Architectural Trades - Lighting Fixtures
April 2018

Electricians are completing the installation of lighting fixtures throughout the building: ambient lights for the classrooms, walkways and watering holes, and safety lights in case of emergency. Light fixtures are installed with due consideration for the surface on which it will be fixed, along with the installation of acoustic panels.

V Building watering hall central
Chandelier

The V Building's science lab lighting bars

6. Architectural Trades - Fire Safety Management
April 2018

A fire safety management system, or SSI (Système de Sécurité Incendie) protects the campus in case of fire by setting off an alarm siren; closing the DAS Doors to protect and keep clear the evacuation routes, such as stairwells, and by turning on the ventilators of the smoke management system. The SSI control panel is installed close to the welcome desk in V Building lobby and can be managed automatically or manually from any point on the campus.

SSI control panel in the V
Building lobby

Fire alarm siren

Manual fire alarm breaker

7. Architectural Trades - Equipment
April 2018

Equipment installation is ongoing for BIOLAB science labs as well as for sanitary features. Science labs work surfaces have to be connected to the water and gas pipeline networks.

Science lab working desk to be connected to water and gas network

Sanitary equipment with disabled support bar

8. Technical Trades - Accessible Terrace Waterproofing
April 2018

Waterproofing for the accessible terrace close to the Art Room on the 3rd floor of the X Building was completely redone. Leaks in the ceiling of the stairwell below the terrace were spotted through the rainy winter. A decision was taken to replace the old existing waterproofing complex and replace it with a new one.
The operation consisted of completely removing the tiles covering the existing terrace floor. A vapor barrier was then installed on the cleaned surface. Next, a new bituminous waterproofing membrane was laid on new thermal insulation panels on the entire area of terrace. Finally, concrete tiles were laid to protect the new waterproofing complex and to allow people to walk on the terrace.

The waterproofing bituminous membrane on the X Building accessible art room terrace is bounded together and to the support by melting it in using a blowtorch flame.

Concrete tiles are laid on top of the membrane to protect it and to ensure accessibility.

Omnium Design & Consulting

5, Square Raynouard 78150 Rocquencourt

T : 00 33 787176321 – odcsarl@gmail.com

www.odcprojects.com