Saint-Gobain Designs a 3D-Printed Skatepark for the Paris Olympics

Created to resemble a giant pinball machine, the Olympic skatepark design by Saint-Gobain was constructed using 3D printing. Situated on the Esplanade de Paris La Défense, the skatepark opened July 18. The park will be accessible to all for the duration of the Olympic Games.

The 440-yard skatepark was designed for all users: beginners or experienced skateboarders, families, the able-bodied. As part of Paris 2024's "Legacy" program, this facility will be reinstalled after the events close in a town in the Paris region.

Image courtesy of Saint-Gobain

With the Saint-Gobain Skate Game, construction manufacturing company Saint-Gobain wanted an emblematic venue to promote skateboarding during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The company also wanted to reinforce its commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions with a smaller environmental footprint. To make it happen, the company mobilized Saint-Gobain's specialist 3D printing teams and called on a team of athletes.

Vincent Matheron, French skateboarding icon, contributed his technical expertise, and Luc Abalo, three-time Olympic handball champion and painter, created a large mural depicting Team Saint-Gobain athletes racing for Paris 2024. With this skatepark, Saint-Gobain gives concrete form to mark its support for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, "We're aiming high to make the world a better home," said Laurence Pernot, VP of communications at Saint-Gobain Group.

A skatepark with a small environmental footprint thanks to 3DP

The Saint-Gobain Skate Game is the first skatepark to feature 3D-printed concrete modules. This technology makes it possible to use just the right amount of materials, thus reducing the use of resources and the production of waste. Composed of eight modules, including two launchers, one A-frame, one volcano, one double volcano, and three benches, the Saint-Gobain Skate Game was custom-built at the Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix plant in Eindhoven, Netherlands, in collaboration with specialists in urban environment planning and sliding space design, as well as the non-profit organization Pratikable.

According to Saint-Gobain representatives, this method opens new avenues for architectural design, offering the possibility of creating complex, bespoke shapes that were previously difficult to realize. The process also enables rapid, efficient modifications to plans thanks to digital modeling. The 3DP construction allowed Aubry Ramillon, a young architect-designer and skateboarder, to imagine a new urban playground for everyone. 

Having a skateboarder involved in the design assured the result would be enticing for experienced athletes and beginners alike. “These 3D-printed concrete modules are beautifully crafted. The surface is perfectly suited to skateboarding, neither too slippery nor too rough,” said Hortense Boudet, co-founder of the Concrete Surf Riders Paris club. “The slope of the ramps works with all types of boards and makes the park accessible to all levels. The pinball print adds a playful touch, without detracting from the quality of the ground."