After 1 year of research and gathering information from the various users and actors of the GIDC building on BAYER’s R&D site in Gaillard (Haute Savoie), the 18-month construction phase resulted in the delivery of all the formulation and chemical analysis laboratory areas, as well as all the associated technical facilities, by the end of April 2021.
Like many other projects, the project was severely impacted by the health crisis that we are currently experiencing, with all its unknowns to contend with and the various organizational, technical and time constraints that have piled up. In spite of these difficult moments for everyone, especially for the production teams, the project schedule and budget have been respected. This Design-and-Build contract for a total amount of approximately €6M has been completed in accordance with the various commitments.
Revamping the GIDC will have entailed completely stripping out the entire office and laboratory area dating back to 1997, followed by completely revamping the complex in two phases. All this was done while maintaining activity for all users, as well as maintaining production continuity of the technical utilities (purified water, compressed air, specific gases, etc.) despite them being upgraded. The modernization of the laboratory equipment to improve ergonomics of use, as well as the creation of a co-working area open to employees, will have been the focal point of the project.
The project was also technically demanding, with the construction of two extensions: one technical extension housing an effluent neutralization station and a new purified water production facility, and another extension creating a maintenance workshop and a storage area for Bayer’s technical services. Numerous dry air treatment areas, the creation of inactinic zones, as well as the installation of anoxia detection equipment were just some of the subjects that were as fascinating to design as they were to accomplish.
We would like to acknowledge and thank all the ER2i employees who demonstrated outstanding dedication throughout the project enabling a high-quality building to be delivered.
We would like to share with you a few pictures of all the areas delivered at the end of April, showing the outcome of this fantastic collaboration with Bayer.
This retrospective on the delivery of the GIDC building on BAYER’s R&D site in Gaillard (74) was provided by our two project managers Florent Christophe and Théophile Brugiere.