ParisLongchamp, a new landmark achievement for Bouygues Construction

The world temple of speed and horse racing nestled in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, ParisLongchamp is the heir to 160 years of history. Inaugurated on Sunday 29 April 2018 after two years of renovation work for France Galop, the Paris racecourse is a prestigious new achievement for Bouygues Construction.

A modern and responsible architecture

Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, deployed 420 skilled workers over two years to carry out all the work, which consisted of renovating and transforming:

the Jockey Club stand, with a capacity of 10,000 people, and impressive dimensions: 160 metres long, with a 21-metre cantilevered overhang, 35 metres wide and 23 metres high. Its length equals the height of the new Law Courts in Paris, also built by the Group.
the “Totalisateur” building inherited from the 1920s when the odds for horses were calculated electromechanically. The fully refurbished 10,700-m2 space will accommodate the administrative arm of France Galop and rooms for jockeys based abroad
a veterinary building and around 30 new stalls for horses, in addition to the existing 100 or so
10 hectares of green spaces, 150 newly-planted trees, and a paddock where horses from the best studs in the world will be on show
A 320-metre public walkway accommodating reception and preparation areas for jockeys.

Designed by Dominique Perrault, an architect who has created numerous works in Europe, notably the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the angled shape of the grandstand is modelled on the motion of a thoroughbred galloping. The architect’s remit was to improve the overall racing experience.

And the challenge has been met, with the grandstand, which is completely glazed, affording a 180° view and allowing spectators and professionals to easily get from one point to another in less than 2 minutes, as well as providing a view designed for an optimal experience at this mythical track, not to mention an enlarged paddock and 500 screens throughout the site allowing the spectators to follow the races and the odds.

ParisLongchamp is also a model of ecological performance within the world of racecourses, since it meets the High Quality Environment (HQE), HQE Commercial Buildings and HQE Development standards, as well as the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) on the Totalisateur building. These certifications guarantee that the sensitive environment of the site is respected, that buildings are constructed with low energy consumption, that renewable energies are promoted, and that water is managed sparingly.

A state-of-the-art construction site for a connected structure

Another requirement for France Galop: to provide a structure that is 100% connected and in keeping with the times. The structure thus has numerous Wi-Fi terminals and advanced indoor network coverage, allowing optimal connection of users’ smartphones, even during peak periods. Axione, a Bouygues Construction subsidiary, was entirely responsible for the study, design and construction of these facilities.

The teams experimented with the OBEYA (“large room” in Japanese) approach, a Lean visual management practice, where information is available and managed collectively via short, periodic meetings.

Site open to the world

The site will be able to accommodate up to 60,000 people at the annual Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in early October, which is watched by nearly a billion television viewers, making it the most watched race in the world. 34 days of racing are scheduled for 2018.

Now boasting a chic rustic bistro, a 500m2 rooftop-lounge with breathtaking views, an open-air concert stage, the new ParisLongchamp welcomes Parisians eager to get away from it all, to enjoy a festive atmosphere, music and culinary delights, to mingle with racing enthusiasts and to make a new venue in the capital their own.