American architect Studio Gang has unveiled the completed University of Chicago John Boyer Centre in Paris.
The centre has a timber structure and façade, as well as a brise-soleil formed from 900 batons of Lutetian limestone. This last material is known as Paris stone, as it is regionally quarried and appears frequently across the city. Limestone also features at the campus in Chicago.
Laid out to mimic a university campus quadrangle, the centre is located on a compact site that spans an active railway in the Left Bank’s 13th arrondissement.
The 2,400 sq m project is organised around a transparent atrium, with learning spaces on one side and working and social areas on the other.
These include a double-height event space and an amphitheater that can be configured to accommodate lectures, conferences, or large classes.
The centre has green features such as photovoltaic panels, a rainwater reuse system, natural ventilation and a rooftop garden.
Jeanne Gang, Studio Gang’s founding partner, said: “The multilevel atrium provides all the spaces with light and offers visual connections across programmes.
“We wanted the building to amplify social interactions, scholarly collaborations and cultural exchange between the university and the City of Paris.”
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