Producers’ Floor: convenience and security

This brand new building takes a proud stance between Quai d’Ile-de-France, Avenue des Maraîchers and Avenue d’Orléans, in the sector of buildings dedicated to fruit and vegetables. Opened a few weeks ago, the Producers’ Floor now hosts over 80 producers from Ile-de-France, who are unanimous in applauding its convenience and security.

When you enter the Producers’ Floor at dawn, with the wind howling outside, the first thing that surprises you is the calm or even silence emanating from the building, despite the surrounding frenzy. “The first day I came here, I was immediately amazed by how comfortable it is. It’s calm here, it’s well lit and sheltered from the wind,” explains Armand Jerome (whom everyone on the Floor calls “little Armand”). This opinion is shared by a good number of producers who don’t hesitate to laud the convenience and security of this conical cube of breeze-block installed on top of a green concrete slab the same colour as the metal roof. Each shop front has its own roller shutter and a cubicle for the cash registers and billing. Some producers may later install cold rooms along the façade. The offices of the fruit & vegetable producers’ association (AIDPFL) are now located in the same building as the Floor to be closer to buyers and producers.

Comfort and convenience

The first convenience, which all producers notice on arrival, is the ‘temperature’ quality throughout the sales floor. There are no draughts here! Better yet, a free cooling system keeps the building pleasantly fresh in summer, by opening the four large doors, leaving only the security railings visible. A vacuum extraction system installed on the roof circulated the cold night air, keeping the days fresh and cool. In winter, a system of air heaters maintains the whole building in a state of anti-freeze, when it gets very cold. The men and women who work and circulate around the Floor appreciate this comfort personally and because it preserves the quality of the produce.

Contiguous with the E2 building, following on from the fruit and vegetable wholesalers, this structure is really convenient for buyers, who can find everything the Market has to offer within the same perimeter. Buyers and producers also appreciate the alternating level and dock areas allowing both small vans and the heaviest lorries to deliver or pick up goods directly at the Floor. This flexibility also exists inside the building. There are pedestrian aisles (you are allowed to use a bicycle) to channel the flows between sales zones, which means that buyers can wander in front of each store and get a better grasp of the diversity on offer.

What about security ?

No need to worry! Every concern has been anticipated here. The building is equipped with a sprinkler system, with sprinkler heads installed in the ceiling; they go into action as soon as the system detects exceptional heat or smoke in the building. If you look closely at the walls of the building, you’ll spot the fire hose cabinets and necessary fire extinguishers. As for risks of theft or damage, these are dealt with by having roller shutters fitted to each stall, to the entrance doors, which also have security gates, which are locked at end of business.

Key figures on the Producers’ Floor :

• 3328 m² of floor space
• 2208 m² sales floor
• 70 m² in mezzanine for AIDPFL offices and meeting rooms
• 98 sales stalls
• 80 producers

Commissioned by : SEMMARIS
Contractor : IDEC
Financed by :

• SEMMARIS : 60 %
• • Partners 40 % :
  • Ile-de-France Region
  • Oniflhor
  • Seine et Marne regional council
  • Paris city council
  • Val de Marne regional council
  • Essonne regional council