The French architecture firm Le Penhuel and Associates has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Silver Square (Équerre d'argent) award for their innovative school design. The winning project is the Simone Veil School Complex in Tremblay-en-France, located in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, which features a school with innovative pedagogy and a recreational center.
The jury, composed of representatives from AMC and Le Moniteur architectural magazines, particularly praised the firm's commitment to using local materials. The load-bearing stones for the facade were sourced from Bonneuil-en-Valois, located approximately 50 kilometers from the construction site in Tremblay-en-France. The building showcases an impressive combination of natural materials including stone, raw earth, and wood, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable and locally-sourced construction materials.
The architectural design features spacious classrooms and includes a remarkable sports hall constructed on the roof of the building. The structure incorporates raw earth walls, wooden beams, and natural ventilation systems, reflecting modern sustainable building practices. The jury also recognized the building's innovative approach to educational space design, which supports the school's forward-thinking pedagogical methods.
Gaëtan Le Penhuel and his team were specifically commended for their research and inventive approach to the project. This recognition marks another significant achievement for the architecture firm, which has established a reputation for creating thoughtful, environmentally conscious designs that prioritize both functionality and sustainability in educational architecture.
