en.Wedoany.com Reported - Eiffage Immobilier has completed the renovation of the former architecture school in Nanterre, Paris, transforming it into a higher education campus named "Parc Campus." Covering 18,000 square meters, the project's core objective is to breathe new life into this iconic building, abandoned since 2004, without further land artificialization, while meeting the growth needs of the Leonardo da Vinci Higher Education Institution. The renovation concept, developed in collaboration with It's architecture firm, continues the design philosophy of 1970s architects Jacques Kalisz and Roger Salem—treating the school as a natural extension of the surrounding park. The redesign presents an architectural gradient: from preserving the original character of Kalisz's building, to the contemporary expression of three new volumes, and finally to a central square covered by a naturally lit glass canopy.
By retaining most of the existing building, Eiffage Immobilier addressed the challenge of activating this complex site. The project overcame constraints related to the reuse of corroded metal structures and implemented fire safety and thermal regulation modifications to buildings not originally designed for these requirements, adapting them to new uses while preserving the building's spirit. The entire structure is built on the foundations of the restored historic building, extensively reusing existing metal frames, columns, beams, and some concrete floor slabs. Lightweight off-site timber structures enabled maximum retention of these elements, minimizing large-scale intervention on the existing structure.
The new building continues the hallmark flexibility principle of Kalisz's work: free plans can be reconfigured as teaching uses change, balcony facades promote indoor-outdoor connections, and longitudinally woven bamboo sunshades provide thermal protection and enable controlled light diffusion in classrooms. The wood-concrete hybrid structure of the new building follows this logic while incorporating environmental requirements. This approach combines respect for architectural heritage with contemporary needs, reducing the project's carbon footprint.
The project integrates multiple measures related to energy performance and carbon footprint reduction. The new building features timber frame walls, metal beams and columns, and low-carbon concrete; the ETFE glass canopy covering the central square enables dynamic solar management, combined with natural ventilation solutions and bamboo sunshades to reduce air conditioning usage. 750 square meters of photovoltaic panels generate 170 MWh annually, covering 7% of the campus's total electricity consumption. Off-site construction applications include: 100% prefabricated staircases, over 1.2 kilometers of timber corridors (approximately 2,500 square meters), 60 cubic meters of sunshades, and 450 square meters of timber joists for classrooms. New facades are also designed with timber frame facades and timber frame walls. Corridors and facades were developed using a 2D logic, while joists were produced using a 1D approach.
Off-site construction reduced the site's carbon footprint, limited noise pollution and logistics traffic, accelerated construction progress, and improved worker safety conditions. This approach constitutes a lever for industrial innovation: Eiffage Construction Savare, responsible for all off-site timber components of the Parc Campus, invested in a laminated veneer lumber cutting machine capable of producing components up to 16.5 meters long, a capacity among the best in Europe for similar equipment.
The environmental certifications pursued by the project include: E+C-, BBCA Renovation, and Sustainable Building certification for the Île-de-France region. With the Parc Campus, the EMLV, ESILV, and IIM schools under the Leonardo da Vinci Higher Education Institution now have a campus that matches their growth dynamics and teaching ambitions.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
