The UCPA Grand Lance Stadium is a key part of the urban redevelopment plan along the railway line. This new public sports facility balances openness with the privacy essential for water sports. The design team focused on creating a spacious, accessible sports complex with clear sightlines.
Based on advanced technology, the project offers broad urban views from the indoor swimming pools while ensuring swimmers’ privacy is protected.
Situated thoughtfully amid existing buildings and greenery, the project ensures both privacy for water activities and the enjoyment of water reflections.
The water complex spans 11,450 square meters and includes:
- Four indoor swimming pools, including an Olympic-sized pool seating 1,500 spectators, plus an outdoor pool
- A health center
- An indoor ice rink connected to an outdoor rink
- Ball sports facilities: two cricket courts, four squash courts, and a club
- A comprehensive sports area
- Shared office spaces for rent
- A retail shop
The project has two main construction focuses. Vertically, it is organized around the ice rink, stadium, and lobby facing the square, bringing vibrancy to Avenue Jules Caesar and highlighting the building’s presence. A terraced garden staircase connects the lobby to the city and the outdoor skating rink at the rear.
Horizontally, the roof functions as a light-filtering element above the Olympic pool, creating a bright and open atmosphere. Rather than simply combining functions, the design meets the city’s specific needs by providing a well-lit, private sports venue for athletes and visitors alike.
The continuity of the roof facade, its structural integration, and the resulting fluid form all contribute to a welcoming environment that serves the community and sports enthusiasts.
The large folded roof is a defining feature of the stadium, becoming the building’s signature. Its dynamic form stretches freely from both sides, while the unified materials and structure of the Olympic and shallow pools, combined with natural light, emphasize this sense of freedom.
The roof structure spans north to south with seven horizontal beams measuring between 70 and 90 meters, spaced 8.6 meters apart. In areas where structural support is less critical, gaps allow ample sunlight to enter, creating a play of light and shadow that mirrors the roof’s undulating folds.
The metal colonnade supporting the roof between the north and south facades not only provides structural support but also establishes an inviting public presence facing the city.
The roof’s materials were carefully chosen: its upper surface is predominantly white PVC film, flexible enough to accommodate the roof’s geometric curves and ensure waterproofing. The underside features wooden cladding—a flat noodle-like structure that covers the entire interior and extends southward.
This energy-efficient roof includes an inflatable, high heat-capacity, and sound-insulating opaque structure, alongside transparent gaps made from triple-layer ETFE membranes. Oriented north-south, these translucent sections allow the central areas above the swimming pool to receive ample natural light throughout the day.
Project Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ Plan view
△ Section diagram
△ Structural schematic diagram
△ Structural schematic diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Marc Mimram
Area: 11,450 m²
Year: 2020
Photography: Erieta Attali
Manufacturers: BC Inoxeo, Evalon V de Alwitra, Foamglas, France EQUIPEMENT, IASO, Klaus Göbel, NBK North America
Executive Manager: Marc Mimram
Co-architect: Martin Fougeras Lavergnolle
Architects: Bertrand Robuchon, Moritz Reinisch
Location: Reims, France
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