STATUS
IN CONSTRUCTION
PARIS, FRANCE
CLIENT
Sorbonne Université
TYPOLOGY
Education
SIZE M2/FT2
15,992 / 172,136
STATUS
IN CONSTRUCTION
SHARE
The new multidisciplinary research center of Sorbonne University, located between Jean Nouvel’s Institut du Monde Arabe and the open green park of Sorbonne’s Jussieu Campus will become a significant addition to the campus, strengthening the international appeal and openness of the leading French University for Science and Medicine. The facility will bring together academic scholars and the business community, while re-connecting the university physically and visually with the city of Paris.
Located in the visual axis of the Notre Dame Cathedral in a dense context of university buildings from different historical periods, BIG proposes a building geometry that adapts to the specific conditions of all adjoining sides, optimized for daylight, views and accessibility. The three-dimensional envelope retracts from the neighboring facades, opens up towards the Mohammed V Square and the park, and folds into a publicly accessible rooftop landscape, resulting in an adapted sculptural building volume.
A central canyon provides daylight and a visual connection between laboratories and offices. In the atrium a cascade of informal meeting spaces lead to the public rooftop terrace and faculty club. A public stair to the rooftop offers glimpses into the activities of the laboratories which are divided by transparent walls throughout the building to ensure visual connections between the working spaces. The upper levels have panoramic views towards the Notre Dame and the skyline of Paris.
“Like a scientific incubator, Cité de l’innovation Sorbonne Université will provide the physical environment for nurturing growth of cultures and sharing of ideas - through the internal mix of laboratories, research facilities and informal meeting spaces, and through a reunification with the public life of the city."
The iconic view of the Notre Dame cathedral is not only brought into the daily life of the building though the large panoramic windows, but the façade facing Mohammed V Square is also slightly angled, so a mirror image of the cathedral becomes visible from eyelevel on the square – connecting the innovation center visually to its iconic location.
Bjarke Ingels Finn Nørkjær Daniel Sundlin Andreas Klok Pedersen Jakob Sand Aimee Louise Desert Alexander Codda Alex Bogdan Ritivoi Amro Abdelsalam Andrea Hektor Andy Coward Andrea Angelo Suardi Bernhard Touzet Bjarke Koch-Ørvad Boris Kadiyski Cæcilie Søs Brandt-Olsen Duncan Horswill Elena Bresciani Ewa Zapiec Fabio Garau Filip Fot Filip Rozkowski Francisco Castellanos Francois Ducatez Gabrielle Nadeau Gerhard Pfeiler Jonathan Russell Lucie Krulichova Matteo Baggiarini Michael Leef Nanna Gyldholm Møller Quentin Blaising Robert Grimm Roberto Fabbri Sergiu Calacean Simona Reiciunaite Sorcha Burke Timo Harboe Nielsen Tobias Hjortdal Gül Ertekin Andreas Bak Alexandre Carpentier Antonina Tsepurnohh Camille Crepin Edouard Boisse Robinson Neuville Tiina Liisa Juuti Yang Du Jose Ignacio Balaguer Palacios Edward Durie Ricardo Candel Janis Bronka Thomas Lejeune Emma Isabelle Olsson Ingrid Albina Oliva Lampa Jean Paysant Lore Vyfeyken Alžbeta Hlinová
SPAN
OXO Architectes
Igrec Ingnierie
Bureau Michel Forgue
Franck Boutté Consultants
Theatre Projects
Geoff McFetridge