Soriba: A "Stone-Toned" City Hall | Precast Concrete Cladding Using Aalborg White Cement

Based on Aalborg White cement, Soriba handled the prefabrication of the cladding elements for the City Hall of La Roche-sur-Yon.

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Aalborg White Cement Sets the "Stone Tone" for La Roche-sur-Yon's City Hall [©Soriba]

Not everyone knows this, but the town of La Roche-sur-Yon, in Vendée, was founded by Napoleon Ist in 1804. It has never forgotten this heritage and is preparing to dedicate a museum to the emperor, set to open in 2028. In the meantime, a new City Hall has just risen from the ground. Designed by the firm Richez Associés (lead architect of the project consortium), the building stands out with its stone-toned exterior. 

Sand-Finished Precast Walls

“The facades, structured with concrete mullions, follow a rigorous design, a blend of contemporary and classical styles that reinforces the institutional character of the building,” explains Richez Associés. Madeleine d’Ersu, project manager, adds: “We identified several specialists in low-carbon concrete near La Roche-sur-Yon. These are local skills we wanted to highlight.”

Soriba is one of these key players and was selected to supply the façade elements. The manufacturer prefabricated and delivered approximately 257.46 m² of Bétomur Coffré integrated formwork walls. These were cast in concrete formulated with CEM I 52.5 R Aalborg White® cement, which Soriba has been using for several years. The concrete was tinted in a stone tone and given a sandblasted finish. The elements come in three thicknesses: 20 cm, 25 cm, and 30 cm.

Excellent Admixture Compatibility

In addition, nearly 551.56 m² of traditional panels were produced using the same concrete and finish. These elements are installed across all levels of the building. For Soriba, the choice of Aalborg White cement met two major criteria. Outstanding mechanical performance, both at early and long-term (28-day) stages. Above all, excellent compatibility with admixtures.

Currently nearing completion, the La Roche-sur-Yon City Hall is scheduled for delivery later this year.