More efficient and sustainable, the future Valrose campus will be connected to the district heating network of the Ariane Energy Recovery Unit (UVE). This solution, which will replace the oil-fired boilers used until now, will improve the University’s energy efficiency and carbon footprint. A network of substations will be installed by Equans teams and then connected to the new system.

To prevent energy loss, the thermal insulation of the facades on two buildings will be redone, notably through the installation of new windows and doors. To complement this sustainable initiative and improve the energy efficiency of the campus lighting, INEO, an Equans subsidiary, will replace more than 5,000 light fixtures with LEDs.
The roofs of several buildings will be equipped with photovoltaic panels. Estimated at nearly 900,000 kWh/year, the energy produced will not only meet the campus’s entire energy needs but also supply other grids.

The consortium will also construct a new building designed to house two research units focused, in particular, on the conservation of marine resources. With a floor area of 460 m², it will house research laboratories. Equans’ teams will be responsible for installing the technical and plumbing systems adapted to the technical constraints of this type of environment.

Finally, Université Côté d’Azur is pursuing an ambitious cultural and social policy. As part of this effort, the consortium will oversee the renovation of the ISBA, an iconic building, as well as the creation of parking spaces and walkways designed to improve campus accessibility for people with disabilities.

Through its subsidiaries AXIMA and INEO, Equans France will oversee the construction sites and carry out the HVAC, electrical, and district heating connection work. The architectural firm KARDHAM and the companies Tractebel and Edeis will be responsible, respectively, for the architectural design and the structural and mechanical/electrical engineering studies for the campus. Construction, masonry, and carpentry work will be carried out by the general contractor Dumez, while Engie Cofely will subsequently manage the operation and maintenance of all infrastructure on the renovated campus.

“As a global leader in multi-technical services, Equans designs, installs, and delivers turnkey solutions to improve facilities, technical processes, and infrastructure for regions, cities, industries, and buildings. Organized around seven main areas of focus, the renovation of the Valrose campus is emblematic of this mission and illustrates the diversity of Equans’ expertise in helping its clients decarbonize their assets. “All of our teams are proud to be making a very tangible contribution to the revitalization of the historic Valrose campus,” emphasizes Alain Gros, Director of the Greater South Region at Equans France Smart Building.

“In a tense geopolitical context, energy independence is more relevant than ever; moving away from fossil fuels in favor of a more sustainable district heating network and self-consumed solar power therefore represents a real opportunity. Beyond the comfort for users provided by the buildings’ thermal retrofit, I am delighted that this project, carried out as part of the France Relance plan, will also enable the construction of a building to house the ECOSEAS research laboratory,” concludes Marc Dalloz, Vice President of Assets, Infrastructure, Accessibility, and Sustainable Development at Université Côte d’Azur.