France – Theatre construction work – Conversion of the Palais des Expositions into the Palais des Arts et de la Culture

Opportunity description

Built between 1956 and 1964, the Palais des Expositions (PEX) is of remarkable architectural interest. Its preservation and the work that will restore the full quality of its architecture will only increase its heritage value. In addition, the Théâtre National de Nice is developing a project to reorganize its cultural activities, involving their expansion across several sites. The challenges and objectives of this project are multiple. These include: - Preserving the heritage character of the Palais des Expositions by maintaining the architectural integrity of this historic site -Showcasing the Palais des Expositions by developing a new use that meets the needs of the people of Nice and making it accessible to all, -Defining a coherent urban development plan, incorporating the local authority's related projects, in particular the extension of the Promenade du Paillon, and making the PEX the culmination of this promenade, - Enhancing the range of cultural facilities adapted to changes in the population's needs, in full alignment with the cultural reorganization project of the Théâtre National de Nice, - Creating synergy and a new attraction by developing major cultural events, strategically located at the heart of an urban, functional and environmental unit. The operation concerns the development of an ambitious cultural project, enabling the City of Nice to gain national and even international prominence. The project concerns the conversion of the Palais des Expositions into the Palais des Arts et de la Culture, with the construction inside the building of 2 major cultural facilities, forming a key cultural hub for the City of Nice: -The Théâtre National de Nice (TNN), Centre Dramatique National Nice Côte d'Azur (demolished as part of the Promenade du Paillon operation, and also presenting numerous operational shortcomings). The Theatre is an 800-seat facility, comprising a main performance hall, a rehearsal room, and related spaces (reception, logistics, administration, etc.). The theatre will have its own production workshops as well as storage spaces consolidating the various current locations. It will operate in conjunction with other sites: the Franciscans site (small auditorium, rehearsal, administration). -The Cinémathèque de Nice (located in the Acropolis convention centre, demolished as part of the Promenade du Paillon extension operation), comprising an auditorium for at least 175 spectators, a projection booth, and related spaces (reception, offices, viewing room, exhibition space). It will operate with the animated film workshop intended for schoolchildren (60 children) -The operation must also make it possible to renovate the hall and the reception pavilion, as well as their immediate surroundings, to adapt them to the arrival of these 2 facilities and the new uses thus created. Accordingly, in addition to the 2 facilities, the operation provides for: o The construction of a shared reception hall for the new TNN and Cinémathèque facilities and internal circulation routes within the hall (which may extend over several levels), o The construction of technical and logistics premises specific to the facilities created o The renovation of the reception pavilion, including the replacement of joinery and the creation of vertical circulation cores in accordance with SSI regulations, enabling it to accommodate the Cinémathèque and the film workshop, as well as subsequent activities in the residual spaces o The construction of a theatre within the hall, in the form of a "box within a box" o The project must seek to optimize the existing surface areas of the reception pavilion and the hall in order to preserve the largest possible so-called “adaptable” space at the northern end of the hall. It should be noted that this structure is remarkable from an architectural and structural standpoint: the designers must take care to preserve and enhance it. In view of the context set out above, the contract intended to be awarded following the consultation procedure covered by these Consultation Regulations, concluded in the form of a design-build contract, concerns the conversion of the City of Nice's Palais des Expositions into the Palais des Arts et de la Culture, which will incorporate the Théâtre National de Nice and the Cinémathèque, as well as the renovation of the hall and its immediate surroundings (hereinafter the “Contract”). Thus, the Contract, within the meaning of Article L.2171-2 of the French Public Procurement Code, includes design services and the execution of works. At this stage, the scope of the Contract is specified in the document entitled “Functional Programme”. This consultation is being launched under a competitive dialogue procedure, in accordance with the provisions of Articles L.2124-4, R2124-5, R.2124-3 3° and 4°, and R.2161-24 to R2161-31 of the French Public Procurement Code. Thus, this procedure comprises 2 phases: - The APPLICATIONS phase is initiated by publication of the contract notice; interested companies are invited to submit an application file demonstrating their capacity to provide all the services and works covered by the Contract; in light of these applications and in accordance with the procedures described in these Consultation Regulations, the Contracting Authority selects the candidates who will be invited to submit a tender; -The DIALOGUE phase is initiated, solely for the candidates selected at the end of the preceding phase, by sending them an invitation to participate in the dialogue. For details, see Article 3.1 of the Consultation Regulations. The Contract is a design-build contract within the meaning of Article L2171-2 of the French Public Procurement Code, combining design and construction services. In view of the second paragraph of said Article L2171-2 of the French Public Procurement Code, it is specified here that recourse to this type of contract is justified on technical grounds. Indeed, the project to convert the Palais des Expositions de Nice into the Palais des Arts et de la Culture presents technical and architectural specificities that require close collaboration among the contracting authority, the designers, and the construction companies. The complexity of the requirements (structural, programmatic, functional), in terms of both design and execution, entails a need for flexibility and adaptation that can be fully met by a design-build procedure. This approach enables the various stages to be handled in an integrated manner, ensuring greater consistency between the design and execution phases, as well as optimization of costs and timeframes. The creation of a “box within a box” theatre inside an existing building requires the involvement of both designers and companies. The nature of the architecture, the structural constraints and, in particular, the load paths of this “box,” depending on the selected construction method, will define the structural impact on the existing building (whose design, resembling that of an engineering structure with prestressed cables, is entirely unique). Thus, the designers cannot propose a solution without first incorporating and studying the construction method and structural impacts. The Contract is concluded at a global fixed price. The administration's overall estimate: EUR 42,000,000 excluding VAT, including MOE + works. The estimated duration of the various contract phases is as follows: Design phase: 12 months Execution phase: 23 months The exact arrangements for commencement of these phases will be specified by the Contract's CCA. In all circumstances, the Palais des Arts et de la Culture de Nice facility must imperatively be delivered in March 2030. Procedure: comp-dial. Review the original TED notice for the complete requirement, lots, amendments and attachments.