CEA Saclay

DATA INTELLIGENCE - Redevelopment of an office platform

The Data Intelligence platform project at the Laboratoire d'Intégration des Systèmes Numériques Intelligents (LIST) involves the creation of a space dedicated to Data Science research and development at the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA). The platform covers the first two levels, garden level and first floor, of Building 861 on the CEA's Nanno-Innov site in Saclay, representing a surface area of 2,500 m².

The main architectural constraint to be met by the project is the management of natural light in the work rooms.
To achieve this, while taking into account and respecting the program data, we opted to prioritize and distribute the spaces according to the light sources already existing and naturally corresponding to a use. Thus, the atrium, which provides generous, diffused light thanks to its skylight effect and central position in the building, is designed to welcome all future users of the platform. Passing through the entrance gates at the edge of the atrium, users are naturally guided along their path by the layout and floor treatment, allowing them to take advantage of the architectural features installed to make it dynamic and attractive. This walkway gives the atrium a lively, open feel, while providing more secluded, relaxing work spaces.

Two types of acoustically-treated cubicle, each able to accommodate 2 to 4 people, are available for improvised meetings and interviews. The mobile "cahute" cubicles, designed on castors, can be moved around the atrium as the user wishes, and are sized for 2 people. They can be used for a conference call, a 2-person meeting or individual work. Users are free to use them as they wish. There are 3 other cubicles that can accommodate 3-4 people and are more suitable for micro-meetings. The first cubicle is located near the exhibition area, the other two to the north of the central staircase leading to the garden level.
Thanks to these various architectural features, the atrium can be used as a showroom, an exhibition area, a place for socializing, as well as a place for exchanges and more concentrated work.

The large 20-person meeting room is located on the first floor, between the work module area and the atrium. Generously glazed on its two largest sides, this space benefits from indirect light from the atrium and the north facade, which also illuminates the work modules. Its central position within the building allows easy access from anywhere on the platform.

The Work Modules are positioned entirely along the building's north facade on the first floor, and along the north and south facades on the garden level, taking advantage of the maximum amount of natural light provided by these openings.

Our work on light has therefore led us to locate the largest workspaces on naturally lit facades: these large, less partitioned spaces allow light to diffuse towards the center of the building, thanks in particular to the presence of full-height glazed partitions and solid spandrels.

On the garden level, in addition to the workstations and rooms specific to the program, users have access to a convivial space within the platform, encouraging meetings and exchanges, and once again offering a variety of spatial configurations to enable them to make the most of the space.
Finally, the English courtyard, which today has no function and is in a state of wasteland, is being landscaped, enabling the work spaces, library and Hackathon room juxtaposed there to benefit from light and views.

In this way, the Data Intelligence project responds to the needs of its future operators, offering both "classic" workspaces designed for a given use, and more "informal" spaces that allow users to make them their own, giving another definition of collaborative and/or individual work.