On January 25, Vill'Up, the last commercial center of Apsys in France, realized by Eiffage Construction and Eiffage Métal on an area of 30 000 m², comprises a total of 30 shops, 18 restaurants, a cinema, the highest Indoor free fall glass tube in the world and 1 600 parking spaces.
The construction of Vill'Up, a complex located in the 4th span of the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, was entrusted in 2013 to Eiffage Construction as a general contractor for an amount of 87 million euros. Supervised by the teams of Eiffage Construction, more than 290 companions from 25 different trades were involved in the success of this operation.
To bring this extraordinary retailtainment project to life, the demolition of 10,000 m² of floor space was necessary, and 10,000 m3 of concrete and 3,000 tons of steel had to be installed when the Eiffel Tower had 7,300 tons metal frame.
The work, both technical and ambitious, was all the more complex as the City of Science and Industry remained in operation. Protected corridors of 40 meters in length had to be permanently secured in the heart of the site to allow a possible evacuation of the public of the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie.
The works were, moreover, carried out without the aid of any tower crane. For example, the 9 new metallic walkways needed to improve accessibility to buildings were installed by Eiffage Métal at night.
Finally, the construction of the cinemas, "suspended" above the atrium, required to climb to the ground a frame of 2 000 tons then to raise it over more than 30 meters. This operation was carried out thanks to the assistance of workers specialized in assembly and welding.
Photo Credit: C. Barriquand-Treuille