Context
The Urban Community of Grand Verdun is planning the complete renovation of a heritage theater that has been closed for several years. Before starting the design phase, CIDECO carried out a structural assessment of the heritage theater.
This step aims to understand how the building functions, qualify its construction systems, and define the interventions needed to support the rehabilitation.
The building features a configuration representative of 19th-century theaters. The Italian-style hall, the successive balconies, the stage, the dome, and the technical areas form a rich and complex ensemble.
The materials are varied: stone vaults, metal floors, solid slabs, timber structures, and framing elements. This diversity requires a progressive approach.
It makes it possible to understand the overall behavior of the structure and anticipate the needs for repair or strengthening.
Work carried out
CIDECO conducted a complete visual inspection, from the technical areas up to the dome.
This first step made it possible to identify several phenomena: localized cracks, superficial alterations, and signs of aging commonly found in old structures.
Non-destructive investigations, including ground-penetrating radar measurements, then clarified the composition of the floors and the location of the reinforcement. These investigations complete the initial assessment.
Targeted probes confirmed the nature of the materials and defined the construction systems encountered. All observations were organized into dedicated mapping and a photographic inventory. This foundation facilitates later analyses and secures interpretation.
Methods and expertise mobilized
The collected data fed numerical models reproducing the behavior of the load-bearing elements.
Thanks to this modeling, it becomes possible to evaluate the load-bearing capacity of the floors, the response of metal structures, and the robustness of the stone vaults.
The analysis distinguishes satisfactory areas, those requiring repair, and those needing strengthening.
This approach makes it possible to target interventions and adapt solutions to the future use of the theater.
The assessment also includes an evaluation of fire performance according to current standards.
Massive elements generally offer good performance, while certain floors and lightweight structures must receive suitable protections.
Thus, the project can anticipate regulatory constraints.
Added value
The structural assessment provides the project owner with a reliable and operational understanding of the theater’s condition.
With this solid foundation, renovation choices gain in precision and coherence.
The study secures planning, clarifies priorities, and helps preserve the heritage character of the building.
It constitutes an essential technical basis for initiating the rehabilitation under good conditions and with a clear understanding of the structural issues.
