School Complex of the Olive Tree / GGR architectes

"An in-depth analysis of the social cost of carbon, conducted during the competition phase, led the project team to propose an entirely new construction while remaining within budget. The existing school building lacked the capacity for sustainable transformation; its demolition would free up land and allow for a reimagined urban future."

"The unification of primary and nursery levels offers the opportunity for children to grow and learn together from an early age. The creation of the school on the site enables broader development scenarios for the town."

The Pechbonnieu school complex project initially aimed to rehabilitate and extend an existing school facility. During the competition phase, a comprehensive social cost of carbon analysis revealed that new construction would be more sustainable than renovation, despite maintaining the original budget. The existing building's limitations made sustainable transformation impractical. Demolition freed land for reimagined urban development scenarios. The new school unifies primary and nursery education levels, creating an integrated learning environment where children develop together from early childhood through primary education.

Read at ArchDaily