Completed projects

05/09/2011

The 270 employees working at Lafarge's head office in South Africa are now enjoying their new premises north east of Johannesburg.

The buildings, constructed using the Group's solutions, required:

• 1,500 linear meters of Lafarge partition systems (Plasterboard, Metal Studs & Track);
• 35m³ of Artevia® Polished concrete for the entrance hall.

Also reflecting the Group's commitment to sustainable construction, the buildings incorporate high energy performances components:

• thicker tinted glass for the windows providing better thermal insulation (cooler offices in summer and warmer in winter);
• motion sensors to replace switches, etc.

12/15/2010

The WAB® solution was chosen to construct the external walls at a worksite of a school in Hereford, Western England, and Lafarge supplied 1,200 m² of the product.

The plasterboard was selected due to its water resistance and ease of installation. Initially designed for damp environments, WAB® has found a new application due to the increasing popularity of light external walls in the UK.

WAB® is sold under the name Aqua in the UK.

11/10/2010

Lafarge inaugurated its first low-energy house in Angers (France) on last November 9th, demonstrating that concrete is a viable solution to sustainable construction challenges.

With a habitable surface area of 108m², the house was built in collaboration with French residential construction company Maisons Bernard Jambert and meets the requirements of LEB (low-energy building) certification with energy consumption of 48kWh/m² p.a. It is also in line with French Thermal Regulation 2005 (RT 2005) and is ahead of its time in relation to the 2012 regulation!
The Jambert-Lafarge house, which receives an A-rated energy label, was built by combining a bioclimatic design, the choice of a efficient construction system, good thermal insulation and air-tightness as well as the incorporation of high-performance technical equipment.

The house combines the Group's materials with well controlled common construction systems:

• Cements: The Classic, Multibat for the load-bearing walls.
• Concretes: Agilia® for the building's shell and the screed over the heated floor.
• Gypsum: PREGYMAX 29.5 for the insulation of the partitions, PREGYMETAL, SYNIA™, PREGYDRO™ for the partitions and finishes.
• Insulation: Unimat®.

08/18/2010

Lafarge Gypsum was the only company to donate materials for the refurbishment of the Mauro Ribeiro Viegas museum in the church of Outeiro da Gloria in Rio de Janeiro, a site with colonial architecture dating from the 16th century.
The Group supplied 100m2 of plasterboard for the restoration of the building's ceiling. The project improved the room's thermal insulation, which is vital to preserving the art works, and addressed the museum's acoustic problems. This initiative was particularly well-received since the museum wanted an environmentally-friendly solution - which they got since the plasterboard is 100% recyclable!

03/17/2010

The Shanghai World Expo will take place from May to October 2010 with the theme of urban planning and sustainable construction.

Lafarge is the largest provider of plasterboard to the event, supplying 60% of the international pavilions and other exhibition buildings. These include:

• China's pavilion (200,000m² of gypsum),
• the exhibition museum (100,000m² of gypsum),
• the Pavillon de la France, designed by Jacques Ferrier, an architect who previously worked with Lafarge on the Hypergreen project (5000m² of gypsum),
• as well as the low-energy Eco-house, the Spanish, Russian, Australian, Italian, Polish and Danish pavilions, etc.

03/17/2010

For the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, Lafarge is partnering the Pavillon de la France which has been designed and constructed by architect Jacques Ferrier.

A symbol of France and its art of living, the Pavillon de la France has benefitted from the most up-to-date innovations in architectural design, building materials and respect for the environment. Based on the concept of the "sensual city", it evokes all 6 senses: taste, sight, hearing, touch, smell and balance/movement.

The Lafarge space, representing touch, was produced using Ductal®, the Group's ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete, and PLAtec® plasterboard.

Opened in the summer of 2006, the Quai Branly museum in Paris, France, used PLAtec™ technology to produce the Lévi-Strauss auditorium.
Under the management of architect Jean Nouvel, PLAtec™ allowed implementation of a partitioning system combining an innovative aesthetic with meticulous attention to acoustic detail. The acoustic insulation and sound standardization qualities of PLAtec™ make it the ideal solution for this type of structure.

The Salle Pleyel in Paris, France, has been a legendary music venue for more than 80 years. Its renovation was carried out with consideration for the architecture, acoustics and history. This meant using the Prestia™ system to renovate the staff moldings and false ceilings, rejuvenating the building while respecting French historical heritage.

11/20/2007

The Lafarge Gypsum Business in South Africa organized a competition for architecture students intended to demonstrate that plasterboard is a versatile material that lends itself to creativity. As can be judged from the 286 projects received, the competition was a big success.
The independent panel of judges, consisting of architects and interior designers, named Leon van der Westhuisen winner. His project used one single sheet of plasterboard to create a stunning coffee table using the principles of Origami!

05/31/2007

Lafarge products played an important role in the restoration of the Vaucluse administrative building. Inside, the suspended gypsum ceilings were constructed using the PLAtec™ prefabrication process. This exclusive system for custom manufacture and cut-out optimizes the mechanical strength of plasterboard sheets (resistance to fire, humidity, heat, etc.). With the PLAtec™ process, plasterboard becomes an architectural design material.

08/01/2006

35,000m² of Lafarge plasterboard were used for the Mall Bagkapi S.F.X. movie theater in Bangkok: a prestigious project! Nine millimeters-thick plasterboards were used for the ceilings of the 10 theatres which blended in perfectly well with the Modern Art architecture of the theatre, while maintaining the acoustic quality of the theatre.

The Hilo acoustic plasterboards and the Exsound acoustic plasterboard system wrap the new library at Haerbin University in northeastern China in tranquil silence. Reducing noise pollution was a top priority in the construction of this building, which is located less than 30 meters from a railroad line.

Lafarge products combined modernity, elegance and ecology while complying with stringent acoustic specifications.

In 2005, Rapid Deco Level 5 plasterboard was chosen to renovate the Palazzo wing of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Rapid Deco Level 5 is pre-coated in the plant and sold with a jointing system designed for plasterboard. Its simple application and attractive, uniform finish won over the team of architects from Charles Mask Design.

12/09/2005

The 14,000 m² Siam Paragon complex includes boutiques, an exhibition and leisure center and luxury hotels. Its ambition is to become the leading shopping and business center in Southeast Asia. Lafarge's Synia™ plasterboard was used extensively throughout the complex.

Eight screens, 2,200 seats, 10 meter-high walls: welcome to the largest and most luxurious movie theater in Nanjing, China! An ambitious project and important contract, Lafarge Gypsum Shanghai supplied the partitions and ceiling. The products ensure sound insulation and 4-hour fire resistance. A total of 5,000 m² of D‑Stud System boards and 25,000 m² of fire-resistant boards were used for this project.

Virgin's new French headquarters near Paris were designed by architect Renzo Piano. Particular care was taken with the interior design of the workspaces, which are configured as lofts. Bookshelves made of PLAtec™-crafted plasterboard elements blend perfectly with the wooden trim.

Prairie District Homes in Chicago's Central Station development is a large residential building that used Lafarge's Rapid Coat plasterboard compound. This ready-to-use joint is ideal for jointing plasterboard. The contractor's finishing foreman chose Rapid Coat for its ease of use and time-saving features. This project required more than 8,000 units of Rapid Coat.

02/21/2005

Kings School, located west of Sydney, Australia, invested in a new library and auditorium built by Bligh Voller Nield. Lafarge Plasterboard was awarded the contract thanks to its perforated boards (AcoustiControl, Pregybel) which absorb sound and provide an excellent acoustic performance. A total of 20,000 m² of plasterboard were delivered.

12/07/2004

Lafarge Plasterboard was awarded the contract to supply 915 km² of plasterboard for the Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon. A commitment to the environment proved to be its competitive edge. Specifically, a commitment to reducing, recovering and recycling waste from the worksite.

The Manaus Tropical Business Hotel is a modern 16-storey luxury hotel in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Its location allows guests to enjoy one of nature's most beautiful sights: the sun rising over the Negro River.

Lafarge Gypsum Brazil supplied 54,000 m² of plasterboard for partitions and ceilings.

The Golden Bund Finance Center in Shanghai houses apartments and offices. The 198 meter, 50-storey tower is crowned with a lotus flower, a symbol of prosperity. Occupants of the building include Rolls Royce Shanghai, Nokia, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft.

For this project, Lafarge Onoda Gypsum provided 150,000 m² of plasterboard, more than 50 tons of jointing compound and 150 kilometers of system metal.

09/27/2004

The 1,100 m² of ceilings in the wine cellar of the Malartic-Lagravière vineyard (Graves region, France) were completely renovated. The project was complicated by the need to shield the air conditioning ducts without compromising ventilation or aesthetics. Architect Bernard Mazières chose Prégyroc™ boards.

Highly resistant to humid environments and certified with the Vert Excell Label, they guarantee the absence of any elements that could affect the wine's quality.

With its shaded paths, large, well-lit reading rooms and lounge, the new library has been designed for optimum comfort. Lafarge North America's Gypsum Business supplied all of the plasterboard and finishing elements for the building, which covers 4,000 m².

11/04/2003

Lafarge supplied the plasterboard for the Musée de la Préhistoire in Quinson, France. The building, designed by Foster & Partners, is built into the side of a hill and features a complex series of curves that call to mind the cave dwellings of prehistoric times. All of the plasterboard partitions in this shell-shaped construction are curved, demonstrating the technical prowess of the plastering company.