by
New Student House, Laval
Design competition for a new student hub in Laval, France, providing social, cultural, and support facilities on a university campus.
Set within a former car park adjacent to the ESIEA engineering school, The project proposes a new student centre for the Laval Technopôle campus, conceived as a contemporary hub for student life and collective activity, bringing together a diverse programme of social, cultural and wellbeing functions under one roof. Alongside spaces for student societies, coworking and fabrication workshops, the programme incorporates a suite of flexible indoor activity rooms, supported by changing facilities and ancillary spaces. A cafeteria and adaptable dining and study areas further reinforce the building’s role as a daily meeting place, while health and support services are integrated to broaden its civic function.
The brief places strong emphasis on environmental performance and durability, requiring compliance with current energy standards, careful material selection and a considered insertion into the campus landscape, preserving as much of the existing parking provision as possible while establishing a new focal point for student life.
Location
Sector
arts-culture, civic-community, education, sport-leisure
Intervention
New build
Website
Tender Portal
Tender Stage
Qualification for design competition
Deadline
27 Apr 2026
Project Value/Scale
€4.31 million
Consultant Team
Lead architect (registered with the Order of Architects)
Structural engineer
Building services/Thermal engineer
Civil/Infrastructure engineer
Electrical engineer
Fire safety systems specialist
Acoustician
Quantity Surveyor
Construction Coordinator
Spatial communication designer
Structural engineer
Building services/Thermal engineer
Civil/Infrastructure engineer
Electrical engineer
Fire safety systems specialist
Acoustician
Quantity Surveyor
Construction Coordinator
Spatial communication designer
Submission Criteria
3 teams will be invited for the design competition.
All selected teams will receive a compensation amount of €20k.
Qualification Deliverables:
– Form DC1 – Letter of Application (including authority of the lead consultant where applicable)
– Power of Attorney document (if consortium authorisation is required)
– Declaration on honour confirming no exclusion grounds
– Proof of architect’s professional registration (ARB or equivalent)
– Insolvency documentation (if applicable)
– CVs of key staff assigned to the project
– Professional qualifications / diplomas
– 3 references per consortium member
– Architect’s reference boards (A3 landscape format)
Letter of intent (max. 1 A4, double-sided):
– Team composition
– Organisation of the consortium
– Motivation and understanding of the project
Completed “Application Template” including:
– Identification of all team members
– Roles and responsibilities
– Turnover for the last 3 years (per member)
– Staffing levels (architects, engineers, technicians)
Design Competition Deliverables:
– Written design statement
Design Drawings and Visual Material:
Site and Context:
– Site plan (including access, circulation, and external spaces)
– Urban / campus integration strategy
– Landscape and public realm strategy
Architectural Drawings:
– Floor plans (showing compliance with area schedule and functional brief)
– Sections (spatial relationships and heights)
– Elevations (architectural expression and materiality)
Concept Diagrams:
– Functional zoning and organisation
– Circulation and flows (public / student / staff / servicing)
– Programme distribution
– Environmental strategy diagrams
3D Representatives:
– External perspectives
– Internal views (key spaces such as hall, café, sports areas, coworking)
Technical Approach (outline level):
– Structural concept
– Environmental / energy strategy (RE2020 compliance, passive design)
– Building services strategy (heating, cooling, ventilation, BMS/BACS)
– Acoustic strategy
– Fire safety principles
– Materials and façade strategy (durability and maintenance)
Cost and Programme Information:
– Outline construction cost estimate (aligned with €4.3m budget)
– Elemental or package-level breakdown
– Indicative delivery programme (phasing and methodology)
Submission must be:
– Anonymous
– Fully compliant with the brief and programme
– Within maximum surface allowances
– Demonstrating buildability and cost control