IFORM hall of residence with leisure centre, Coutances Cedex

Expansion to the IFORM Training Institute

IFORM – Institut de Formation de la Chambre de Métiers de la Manche – is the vocational training body for the regional CMA Chamber of Trades.

Project data

Construction time: 2013 to 2015

Developer: CMA de la Manche

Architects: Paumier Architects, Rennes – Saint Malo – Le Havre, AERL Tricot Architecture, Louvigné du Désert

BACS planners: Thalem Ingénierie, Bruz

Hall of residence floor area: 3,000 m²

Leisure centre floor area: 1,800 m²

SCHELL products: CELIS E HD-M electronic wash basin tap, PURIS SC HD-M self-closing wash basin tap, LINUS DP-SC-T shower panel, VITUS VD-SC-M shower fitting, AMBITION ECO WC operating panel, WC installation module including cistern

In Coutances in western France, trainees attend classes to gain the thorough professional grounding they need to complete their vocational training and make a successful start to their careers – the kind of tuition that many companies cannot provide during their busy, day-to-day business operations. During the seminar blocks, which last for several days or several weeks and are completed over a period of one to three years, the young people now stay in the new IFORM hall of residence.

This three-storey, architecturally imposing new building has replaced all of the CMA’s previous accommodation and welcomed its first residents at the start of the 2015 winter semester. The building consists of two connected structures and offers 256 residential units. The residential complex also includes a leisure centre with cafe, library, computer room, film and music room, fitness studio and sports hall.

The trainees live in four-bed, two-bed and single rooms. Each room has an en suite bathroom with wash basin and shower, although WC facilities are separate and located elsewhere. Thanks to a lift, all areas are also fully accessible for disabled students and a number of accessible bathrooms are also provided.

In the halls of residence, ecology is an important aspect – especially when young people are living there who may only rarely remember to handle water and energy in a resource-friendly fashion. This is the reason why self-closing shower and wash basin fittings and taps were installed in most bathrooms. Here, planners chose the linear and timeless contours of the PURIS SC wash basin tap plus the maintenance-friendly LINUS SC shower panel with thermostat and hot water shut-off at 38 °C. The robustness and ease-of-use of these fittings, together with their highly configurable water flow time and long-term quality at a fair price/performance point were also convincing characteristics.

For the accessible bathrooms, the planners picked the VITUS SC exposed shower fitting with hand shower. This easy-turn, self-closing fitting is also simple to operate for people with mobility impairments. Washing facilities in accessible bathrooms were equipped with the elegant CELIS E sensor tap with contactless operation.

For the WCs, the design of the extra-flat glass plate with self-explanatory dual flush was an instant winner with fit-out planners. Behind the AMBITION ECO operating panel are located the self-supporting installation modules, capable of taking a 400 kg load, with factory-fitted WC cistern. SCHELL’s installation module facilitates a permanent, secure and time-saving pre-wall installation, while meeting the stringent sound insulation requirements for residential construction.