Alfred Ferraz

Alfred Ferraz was a student of the Regional School of Architecture of Lyon 1927-38, when he graduated with honors for his Auberge-Hôtel de la Jasserie. He worked as an architect in Saint-Chamond, Loire until 1949. There, he was appointed mayor after the liberation in 1944. In 1949 he moved to Lyon and six years laters to Saint Etienne. For several years he worked together with Lucien Seignol. Several of their mutual well-known projects included the library of the University of Saint-Etienne, the Cultural Centre L’Esplanade, the city hall of Unieux and the redesign of the city hall of Saint-Bonnet-le-Chateau. A remarkable building was the watch factory in Besançon SIDHOR, built in 1948. Its shape is that of a St. Andrew’s Cross, with space and light distributed through large windows. Some of his other works include L’Esplanade, the House of Culture and the library of the Jean Monnet University, all in Saint-Etienne in 1975. He was vice president of the Lyon Group of the Société des architectes diplômés du gouvernement (S.A.D.G.) and active member of other organizations.

In 1941, the City Council of La Talaudière, a small town near Saint-Etienne, decided to build a stadium. The construction works started in 1942. Since 1944, the football field and two basketball courts were available. After World War II, the complex was completed with the participation of German prisoners of war.