Hunter Douglas Architectural: Meeting challenges at Collège Caroline Aigle

In Cergy, the Collège Caroline Aigle was built in January 2023 to handle the town’s population growth. A team of architects from Gaëtan Le Penhuel & Associés successfully completed the project, which is impressive for its timeframe: only one year elapsed between the start of construction and delivery. Hunter Douglas Architectural is proud to have been involved in the project, supplying HeartFelt® and 30BD ceiling panels.

Facing Tight Deadlines and Technical Constraints

The new school, named after the first female fighter pilot to re-join an Air Force fighter squadron, accommodates 700 pupils, crucial for Cergy-Pontoise’s growing population. The rapid completion of the project within a demanding schedule underscores its significance. “a very demanding deadline for a school”, explains Corina Laza, associate architect with Gaëtan Le Penhuel & Associés.

Meeting Technical Demands

Hunter Douglas Architectural was selected to meet technical demands, installing nearly 1,360 m² of HeartFelt® 40×55 panels and 345 m² of 30BD panels. The modularity and acoustic excellence of the HeartFelt® system proved invaluable, especially in areas like corridors, dining room, multi-activity room, and CDI. Meanwhile, the 30BD metal ceiling system, which was applied on the exterior, contributed to visual continuity with HeartFelt® on the interior.

Modular, Accessible and Excellent Acoustics

The HeartFelt® linear felt ceiling system was selected for its modularity, accessibility and excellent acoustic properties. Its installation proved straightforward, particularly in the building’s spacious corridors, where the thin, long felt strips have the great advantage of ensuring continuity and fluidity of the ceilings. Meanwhile, the 30BD metal laths were ideal for exterior use, meeting modularity requirements while enabling easy installation. Indoors, the HeartFelt® ceiling system adorned the college’s corridors, dining room, the multi-activity room and CDI, while the 30BD metal ceiling system found its place in the courtyard.

Emphasizing Frugality and Durability in Design

In terms of design, the architectural team wanted to emphasise frugality and durability. Corina Laza explains: “We were looking for raw materials with real textures. Like wood, exposed concrete, rubber floors and felt. HeartFelt® with its non-woven felt fibres immediately appealed to the team of architects: “This material, with its natural appearance, matched the warm ambience we were seeking for the interior design. In terms of colour, the felt strips were supplied in different shades of grey. Each of these shades was chosen to achieve a carefully considered aesthetic effect, taking into account the surrounding materials and light: “We wanted to create a contrasting scenographic effect in the multi-activity room, by choosing a dark felt to frame the large bay window. Lighter, warmer colours were used in the corridors, to highlight the exposed concrete and the large open spaces on several levels,” explains Corina Laza. Exterior 30BD slats seamlessly integrated with the interior, ensuring a cohesive design approach.

Heartfelt®: Meeting Demands in Time, Performance, Design, and Price

A year after completion, the architects reflect on the project’s success: Ceilings provided by Hunter Douglas Architectural not only met technical and aesthetic standards, but also demonstrated remarkable responsiveness. Architect Corina Laza concludes: “I appreciated the manufacturer’s responsiveness: we received samples very quickly and had a technical contact right from the start of the project. And although this was our first experience with the HeartFelt® solution, it won’t be our last! The project went very well and HeartFelt® proved to be the ideal product, perfectly meeting all expectations in terms of time, performance, design and price.