ANSES–ANSM laboratories and offices in Lyon-Gerland, France, designed by Pargade Architectes with Moon Safari for ANSES – completed in early 2026
Project overview
Completed in early 2026 in the Lyon-Gerland Biodistrict, the shared ANSES and ANSM building brings together scientific laboratories, technology platforms and offices dedicated to the “One Health” approach. Designed by Pargade Architectes with Moon Safari, the project features a hybrid façade organised around a post-and-beam grid constructed using the GBE System. The reinforced concrete elements are cast in place around integrated thermal insulation, while the bays accommodate glazing and timber-frame façade elements. Lafarge Ultra Twin GBE self-compacting concrete is used in an ECOPact version with a stated 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with a comparable conventional concrete. The project therefore combines structure, continuous insulation, bio-based materials, exposed concrete and architectural adaptability. The GBE System is also used at the major cantilever, maintaining continuity of the insulation between the vertical façade and the slab.
Key project data
Project:
New ANSES and ANSM laboratories and offices
Location:
Lyon-Gerland, Rhône, France
Building programme:
Scientific laboratories, technology platforms, offices and shared facilities
Client type:
Public-sector client
Client:
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES)
Architects:
Pargade Architectes, lead architect / Moon Safari, associate architect
Structural concrete contractor:
Bertrand Duron Constructeur – Fontanel Group, for the façades, on behalf of Roux Cabrero – Fayat Bâtiment Group
Construction system:
Cast-in-place double reinforced concrete elements with integrated thermal insulation – GBE System, used as a post-and-beam façade grid
Build-up:
Two reinforced concrete sections with integrated rigid thermal insulation – thicknesses to be confirmed
Declared thermal resistance:
R = 5.45 m²·K/W
Architectural finish:
Light-coloured exposed concrete, without stain or additional surface treatment
GBE scope:
Insulation support components, spacers, installation tools and technical assistance
Architectural design and construction using the GBE System
What architectural and functional requirements did the façade need to address?
The building had to accommodate sensitive scientific laboratories, technology platforms and offices while remaining adaptable to changes in research protocols, equipment and future requirements. Pargade Architectes and Moon Safari addressed this constraint through a regular orthogonal grid capable of accommodating different types of infill. The solid elements constructed using the GBE System form the structural concrete grid, while the spaces between them receive glazing or timber-frame façade elements depending on the use of the internal spaces. This organisation distinguishes the durable elements of the envelope from components that may evolve over time. Integrated insulation within the concrete elements contributes to thermal performance, while the concrete mass contributes to the thermal inertia of the envelope. The cantilever also required continuity of the thermal insulation to be maintained where the vertical wall changes direction into the slab, without interrupting the architectural expression of the façade.
Why was the GBE System suited to this project?
The GBE System was suited to the project because it allowed an insulated exposed-concrete post-and-beam grid to be constructed entirely in place rather than prefabricated. This method retains the flexibility of conventional cast-in-place concrete, avoids the repeated joints associated with prefabricated panel construction and allows each column, beam, spandrel and lintel to be precisely adapted to the architectural grid. Metal subframes for the numerous openings were positioned within the formwork and cast directly into the concrete in preparation for the installation of glazing and timber-frame façade elements. Ultra Twin GBE self-compacting concrete, placed without vibration, facilitates the simultaneous filling of the concrete sections on both sides of the insulation in geometries narrower than a conventional wall. The system also made it possible to continue the insulation through the cantilever zone, connecting the wall insulation with the slab insulation while retaining a continuous concrete architectural finish.
What benefits does this project demonstrate?
The ANSES–ANSM building demonstrates that the GBE System can form the regular structural framework of a hybrid façade rather than being limited to a fully solid wall. The insulated concrete grid accommodates glazing and timber-frame façade elements, enabling the use of a bio-based material and reducing the amount of concrete in non-structural bays. The ECOPact concrete used for the GBE elements has a stated 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with a comparable conventional concrete; this figure relates to the concrete concerned and should not be interpreted as a 30% reduction in the carbon footprint of the building as a whole. Integrated insulation and concrete thermal mass contribute to energy performance and thermal comfort, while the insulation remains protected within the concrete assembly. The light-coloured concrete is left exposed without stain or additional surface treatment, limiting applied finishing layers and supporting a strategy focused on durability and controlled maintenance for a public-sector client.
Project awards and recognition
