STEEL

SAINT-ETIENNE - FRANCE

Programme

Construction of a shopping and entertainment complex

Client

APSYS

Area

70,000 m²

Cost

108 M€

Scope

Full Service

Schedule

Competition winner 2015 Completed in 2020

Environment

BREEAM VERY GOOD
Biodiversity Label (ABCB)
Bbio < 20% of the RT 2012 standard

Team

Client : APSYS
Lead architect : SUD architectes
Associate architect : Atelier Rivat
Structural engineer : Decare
Building services (MEP) engineer : B-Ingéneirie
Environmental (HQE) consultant : Elan environnement
Landscape architect : BASE
Lighting designer : Les Eclaireurs
Quantity surveyor : CM Economistes
Construction scheduling & coordination : Setec planity BTP, Sharp Ingénierie
Technical inspection body : Alpes Contrôles
Health & safety coordinator : Socotec
Geotechnical engineer : Celigeo

Photographer : Pierre Grasset
Photographer : Gaelle Pascal Pinoncely
Photographer : Briand Berthereau

In Saint-Étienne, the STEEL project stands out as a new urban gateway along the A72, showcasing contemporary architecture with a strong identity. Designed as a hybrid facility combining retail and leisure spaces across nearly 70,000 m², it goes beyond a simple commercial function to offer a true urban experience.

The building is distinguished by a sculptural roof that interacts with the Saint-Étienne landscape and frames views toward the city center. This fifth façade becomes a major compositional element, helping to anchor the project within its surroundings.

The facades are wrapped in a luminous metal mesh, developed with designer Joran Briand, which gives the building a vibrant and evolving identity, visible both day and night.

Beyond its architectural form, STEEL is conceived as an urban park structured around a central landscaped axis. This green space features ecological ponds and a variety of program elements, offering a diversity of atmospheres and uses.

Pedestrian paths, themed clearings, and relaxation areas contribute to an immersive experience where nature and activities blend together. The project thus prioritizes a sensitive and sustainable approach to development, promoting biodiversity and climate comfort.

STEEL offers a new generation of living spaces, where architecture, landscaping, and recreational activities come together to create an attractive, open facility that is deeply rooted in its surroundings.

CINÉMA PATHÉ VAISE

LYON

2008