A €6 million building for the future helicopter fleet
The foundation stone of the future Section Aérienne de Gendarmerie has been laid in Hyères to accommodate a modernized helicopter fleet.
The base aéronautique navale (BAN) de Hyères is preparing to host state-of-the-art infrastructure for the Gendarmerie nationale. The foundation stone of the new Section Aérienne de Gendarmerie (SAG) was officially laid on June 2, marking the start of a strategic construction project for the modernization of the air forces.
This major project, estimated at €5,990,000 excluding tax, was awarded at the end of 2024 by the Secrétariat Général pour l’Administration du ministère de l’Intérieur (SGAMI) Sud to the Spie Batignolles group, which is responsible for its demolition, reconstruction, and operations-maintenance.
Fleet renewal
This reconstruction became essential in the face of the evolution of the gendarmerie equipment. The progressive replacement of the fleet with larger-sized helicopters has rendered the current facilities obsolete and unsuitable, as the existing hangars no longer meet the dimensional requirements of these new aircraft.
The project is part of a national modernization program for air sections, aiming to guarantee optimal conditions across the entire territory for hosting, storing, and maintaining the new generation of aircraft. The delivery of the new building is scheduled for the first half of 2027.
To successfully carry out this mission, Spie Batignolles has partnered with experienced partners, notably the lead architect Guy Fauvet (Collectif d’Architectes) and Atelier Perez Prado for local architecture.
Operational efficiency
The future building, with a usable area of 1,716 m², was designed to combine functionality and quality of life at work. It is divided into two distinct but connected zones, following a forward-flow logic for pilots, mechanics, and command personnel.
The industrial section will house two maintenance bays for the helicopters, each equipped with an overhead crane. The tertiary section will group together offices, changing rooms, as well as rest areas essential for operational readiness.
Upstairs, the command and social areas will open onto terraces offering views of the site entrance and the runways. Special care was taken for the comfort of the occupants, with a bioclimatic orientation and the installation of sunshades. The tertiary building will comply with the RE 2020 regulation, while the industrial part will comply with the RT 2012.
Construction is taking place in a highly secure environment, within a gendarmerie enclave on the base aéronautique navale. This situation requires ongoing coordination with military authorities and poses strong logistical constraints, further complicated by the proximity of a customs building.
To ensure service continuity during the work, Spie Batignolles has set up a transitional living zone with fully functional temporary offices and workshops.
Environmental commitments
The public contract integrates precise performance objectives, notably concerning the quality of natural light, the airtightness of the buildings, and controlled energy consumption. A rooftop photovoltaic system will meet a significant portion of the renewable energy needs.
The project also focuses on the circular economy: the sunshades from the old building will be salvaged, renovated, and reinstalled, and the demolition rubble has been recycled to serve as a subgrade layer for the new construction site.
Finally, the project includes social integration clauses and guarantees that part of the execution will be entrusted to local SMEs, in accordance with the group's corporate social responsibility policy.
Authorities present
The ceremony took place in the presence of numerous authorities, including Général de Division Arnaud Browaëys, Commandant de la Région de Gendarmerie PACA, Joséphine Guigliano-Boutonnet, Directrice de Cabinet du préfet du Var, and Capitaine de Frégate Jérémie Pihet, Commandant en second de la BAN de Hyères.
Article from the print edition of La Gazette du Var