Éco-Vallée, in the heart of the Métropole Nice Côte d Azur, with its first major developments : Grand Arénas, the new international business district, and the Nice Méridia urban technopolis. EPA PLAINE DU VAR www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr
An outstanding area Éco-Vallée, a new model of urban development Between the Alps and the Mediterranean, the Var River runs for 114 km, flowing from its source through spectacular sites and magnificent scenery. Downstream, the valley widens out to become the «Plaine du Var». On the left bank of the estuary stands Nice Côte d Azur international airport, the second busiest airport in France, used by over eleven and a half million passengers a year. It is here in an area covering nearly 10,000 hectares that Éco-Vallée, the first Operation of National Interest devoted to sustainable development and green technologies, is now going ahead. This is the largest area ever subject to such a development project in France. And that s not all that makes it so special The Plaine du Var is a strategic area right in the heart of the Métropole Nice Côte d Azur, which is home to 120,000 people and boasts 60,000 jobs. In the last 30 years, development in the area has been rapid and uncontrolled, hence the determination of the local authorities and the State to restore a more coherent growth model, one that respects this exceptional environment. Here, within the framework of the operation, the technological processes and innovations that will result in an exemplary environment-friendly transformation are being created, brought together and developed. In various sectors such as economic management and use of space and resources, energy autonomy and management, preserving biodiversity, improving air quality, water management in all its forms, controlling urbanisation, mixed land use, sustaining a balance between business, agriculture, housing, transport and natural spaces, all the ingredients are or will be present to ensure the sustainable development of this area. The project is even more ambitious. The challenge is to invent a model for development within this Éco-Vallée, to make it an exemplary site, designed to reconcile economic growth and ecological action, and in which technology will be used to optimise spatial planning. In short, it is a large-scale test bench for developing solutions that can then be transposed to other places. Coordinating with neighbouring areas and constant dialogue with the Sophia Antipolis technopolis nearby are key factors. The two areas are concerned to establish complementary offers, thereby enhancing the overall attractiveness of the Côte d Azur and, more generally, the region. More urbanity in the park, more nature in the urban technopolis: the strategies of the two sites will combine to form a greater, more diversified offer on the Côte d Azur, one that is more visible on the European international scale, and, ultimately, more attractive to business and investors.
undergoing major changes La Baronne Urban planner and developer: EPA plaine du Var The French State has founded a Public Urban Development Agency, the EPA plaine du Var, which is a point of convergence for the institutional and private partners, the regional authorities (the Provence- Alpes-Côte d Azur Regional Council, the Alpes Maritimes General Council, the Métropole Nice Côte d Azur and 15 townships), the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The synergy created between these local stakeholders is a real strength. Together they produce a force of attraction that has mobilised and ensured the public and private investment needed for the success of the project. From design to construction Launched in 2008, the Éco-Vallée first spent time in exchanges to define the development project before going on to sign a financial protocol and complete the procedures required prior to implementation of any construction work for which the EPA is a supervisory contractor. Today the first building works are underway. The partners have given priority to the following four operations: Grand Arénas, an international business district with the Nice Airport multimodal transport hub, Nice Méridia, an urban technopolis bringing together innovative business activities and fostering synergy between business, education and research establishments and housing, La Baronne, an agri-food platform and the new Market of National Interest (MIN), The Saint-Martin-du-Var eco-quarter extending the existing town. In a limited area of less than 100 hectares, 1,000,000 m 2 of buildable space, 4,500 housing units and 25,000 jobs will be created by 2025. Additional public and private development programmes will also be conducted in line with the EPA s strategy. Nice Méridia Grand Arénas Métropole Nice Côte d Azur Éco-Vallée is entirely located within the Métropole Nice Côte d Azur area. Encompassing 49 municipalities and 550,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest established metropolis in France. While tourism, for which the area is world-renowned, has long been the sole focus of growth, the Métropole Nice Côte d Azur has now undertaken a vast project to transform the area and, in so doing, become a benchmark for sustainable development and interconnected networks. Thanks to a diverse supply of real estate for business activities and housing for the working population, the Métropole is broadening the scope of its economic action, supporting innovation and research, encouraging investment and making it easier for businesses to locate here. On the initiative of Christian Estrosi, then Minister for Regional Development, the French government granted the status of Operation of National Interest to Éco-Vallée in the Plaine du Var.
Grand Arénas So much more than an international business district Developing a business district that will attract international businesses The aim of the Grand Arénas project is to develop a major international business district on a par with other major metropolises. It reflects two of the key driving principles underlying the Éco-Vallée: to ensure mixed urban use and to be ecologically exemplary. In addition to business activities, the goal is to ensure a social and functional balance thanks to a diversified housing offer (first-time ownership, subsidised rentals, unregulated rentals, etc.) and a broad range of services, shops, hotels and public infrastructure. This gradual restructuring of the urban landscape is built around two major infrastructure projects: a multimodal transport hub and an exhibition centre. The Nice Airport multimodal transport hub Located in immediate proximity to Nice Côte d Azur airport, the multimodal transport hub defines the Grand Arénas district. This multimodal hub will link all the different means of local and international transport. It will be the first in a series of networked multimodal transport hubs, planned to cover the entire Éco-Vallée. In an urban setting where automotive travel is often difficult and where the current road infrastructure can be a barrier to interchange, it was essential to restructure the entire transport network. This is why Grand Arénas is set to offer alternative modes of getting around, and change the only by car mindset: rail lines (TGV and TER), buses, trams to and from the airport, the centre of Nice and the port, as well as electric vehicle and bike sharing schemes, among others. Nice Côte d Azur international airport is a gateway to the world for Grand Arénas. Handling over 11,5 million passengers a year, it is France s second busiest airport and is set to foster the development of emerging activities, such as business tourism. In addition, the coach station, located to the north of the multimodal interchange hub, near the Boulevard du Mercantour, will ease transfers between bus and coach services, thanks to a reserved-lane public transport network. The train station opposite will have a vast esplanade designed to be a centre of urban life and interchange, while providing fast connections to other means of transport, particularly the tram lines. Three stops on the future West-East tram line will serve the multimodal interchange hub and the two airport terminals. A major exhibition centre for the Côte d Azur The development of an exceptional exhibition centre will spur business tourism on the Côte d Azur. The future exhibition centre will be a decisive addition to the infrastructure which makes business tourism a high-growth sector on the Côte d Azur (like the Nice Acropolis congress centre), but it will also drive further growth in the sector. Thanks to its sheer size (65,000 m 2 ), its technical flexibility and versatility, it will be the ideal venue
for European and even international events. It will be built on the site of the current MIN (market of national interest), only minutes from Nice Côte d Azur airport and the future multimodal transport hub. The exhibition space will be entirely modular and will host events of various scales, including fairs and exhibitions, major international congresses and trade shows. With capacity for up to 35,000 visitors, the future exhibition centre will thus attract international events, a driving force for this key growth activity for the Métropole. A strategic space for economic diversification The goal of all the partners in Éco-Vallée is to encourage a deep-rooted economic transformation across the whole metropolitan area in response to the need for regional development and to meet the demands of companies from outside the region seeking to set up high-performance businesses here. The aim is to give the Côte d Azur metropolis an international business centre that will attract the kind of companies that match its reputation, thanks to the gradual restructuring of the urban landscape in a highly strategic sector centring around two major infrastructure facilities: the Nice-Airport multimodal interchange hub and an exhibition centre. The Grand Arénas project will contribute to greater economic diversity on the Côte d Azur drawing on the existing economic fabric. The Grand Arénas business district is targeted at companies and national corporate head offices that wish to take advantage of the showcase effect and the region s connected networks, as well as growth companies already based in the area. This will serve to consolidate the diversification of tourist activities, extending to business events, especially at the future exhibition centre. Key figures 49 hectares 95% of the land managed by public authorities 750,000 m² of building land capacity - 390,000 m² of office space - 150,000 m² of housing - 110,000 m² of facilities, including a 65,000 m² exhibition centre - 100,000 m² of shops, services and hotels 2,000 housing units, 22,000 jobs forecast in the long term. Ecologically-exemplary building projects The construction of two energy efficient and environment-friendly tertiary sector buildings is about to get underway. To ensure an integrated approach in the environment-friendly development of these two buildings, GDF Suez and EDF energy engineers have been involved from the outset in the design of the future buildings, as they will also be in their construction and subsequent operation. Herein lies much of the originality of the EPA s action.
Nice Méridia An urban technopolis The urban technopolis is less than two kilometres from the airport and Grand Arénas, and just four stops by tram. Integrated into a dynamic and vibrant quarter Here, «urban technopolis» needs to be understood in the broadest and fullest sense of the term. This is a genuine technopolis with all that implies in terms of university education and research centres, R&D laboratories and incubators for hi-tech businesses and innovative start-ups. It is also a genuine city quarter, with all the different facilities that implies: housing for students and working people, available for rental or to first-time buyers, public services ranging from day care to university centres, offices, retail space, and hotels. And all this close to central facilities such as the stadium, concert hall and the police station. Everything is accessible here. The space is organised with a view to facilitating interchange between people and spread ideas faster: digital canteens, co-working spaces and a central square. Buildings are already under construction, or soon will be, in line with the overall schedule (the Regional Learning Centre, the Mediterranean Institute of Risk Management, the Environment and Sustainable Development (IMREDD), the Nice Côte d Azur European Community Business and. Innovation Centre (CEEI), the Sustainable Design School and the EcoLab Côte d Azur), etc. To coordinate this ambitious project, Christian Devillers, the world-renowned architect and urban landscape designer, is in charge of project management for the Nice Méridia urban development. Innovation to improve the quality of life Nature is key to the project A quarter at the heart of the city and a quarter where life is good, Nice Méridia boasts extremely high quality public spaces. Designed by Christian Devillers, with large parks and lively squares for the inhabitants and users of this quarter to stroll around and relax. Mobility The 40-metre avenue will cross through the quarter, linking it to Grand Arénas and the airport in the south and to Allianz Riviera and the Saint Isidore eco-quarter in the north. This avenue will be open to light traffic but, above all, it will be used by a tram line and have open spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. Smart Grid The EPA Éco-Vallée has decided that the Nice Méridia urban technopolis will be the first site for deployment of an urban-scale Smart Grid. The aim of this is to optimise the electricity supply across the quarter, and guarantee controlled energy costs for the user.
The Silo car park The Crown building Key figures 24 ha for the first operational sector 60% of the land is already under public authority management 347,000 m² of building land capacity - 58,000 m² of office space - 177,000 m² of housing - 38,000 m² of R&D centres and labs - 36,000 m² for education - 17,000 m² for services, shops and hotels - 21,000 m² for business activities (showrooms, etc.) Public facilities 5,000 jobs forecast in the long term and 2,500 housing units 3 to 4,000 students The Crown The first project to rise from the ground is The Crown, a remarkable building for several reasons: It is certified as a very high energy performance building (THPE-RT 2012). there are two photovoltaic solar power plants installed on the green roofs The building has a «Greenview» monitoring system which communicates information on its performance and use in real time. It also features a co-working centre and other services, covering around 650 m² Developer : ARTEA Architect : Chaix & Morel et Associés Delivery : june 2015 The Silo car park The 500-space Silo car park is planned to stand next to The Crown. As the second infrastructure project in the Nice Méridia mixed development programme, it will largely meet the parking needs of The Crown s future users, and those of other building programmes in the quarter. Developer : ARTEA Architect : agence VBI Delivery: 2 nd half of 2015
Be part of this great challenge Here in Éco-Vallée you will discover innovative modes of urban organisation and development of the future, a city of mixed uses, a city where everything is in close proximity, where housing, jobs, education and research, leisure and sports activities, as well as public services are never more than a short walk or tram ride away, and yet the entire world is at its doorstep thanks to its rail and air connections. Illustrations : Devillers&Associes_By-Encore, EPA-Mateoarquitectura, EPA-Devillers&Associés, Devillers&Associes_ByEncore_E_Young_AACMA, ARTEA, EPA. Contact Bruno Guedj Head of Promotion & Development bruno.guedj@epa-plaineduvar.com + 33 (0) 4 93 21 71 21 + 33 (0) 6 79 44 47 81 EPA PLAINE DU VAR www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr EPA plaine du Var Immeuble Nice Plaza 455, Promenade des Anglais BP 33257-06205 Nice Cedex 3 Tel.: + 33 (0) 4 93 21 71 00 Email : contact@epa-plaineduvar.com