Nanterre campus project underway

Eiffage Immobilier, through its agency IT’S, is developing the 2026 Campus du Parc, a new campus for the Léonard de Vinci Group on the former Nanterre School of Architecture site. The project has a surface area of 18,000 m² SDP and a VEFA budget of 116 million euros HT, as stated in a press release.

Historical significance of the site

The former Nanterre School of Architecture, built in 1971 by architects Jacques Kalisz and Roger Salem, was the first public facility of a major social rehabilitation project. It transformed an old slum into a modern city district using industrial prefabrication techniques by GEEP Industries.

Cultural context of the area

The site is located in the heart of André-Malraux Park, which was originally designed as a cultural city. It is surrounded by cultural landmarks such as the Nanterre-Amandiers Theatre and the Paris Opera Dance School. The site has been abandoned since 2004.

Winning the redevelopment competition

The site was part of the 2018 Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris 2 competition, where IT’S won the bid with its Campus du Parc project. The plan aims to reconnect the site to the surrounding neighborhood through a network of public pathways.

Urban redesign with city partnership

A Partner Urban Project (PUP) with the City of Nanterre, co-financed by Eiffage Immobilier and the Léonard de Vinci Group, extends the redesign beyond the school. It involves redesigning Le Corbusier Avenue and the square in front of the entrance.

Renovation and expansion of the campus

The Léonard de Vinci University Pole will regenerate the building, increasing its surface area from about 10,000 to 18,000 m². This expansion will place it at the center of the cultural facilities network in André-Malraux Park.

Landscape design inspired by original architecture

The outdoor design takes inspiration from the cellular geometry of the original school modules by Kalisz and Salem. Landscape architect Base is creating a design that transitions from mineral surfaces to vegetation as one moves closer to the park.

Functional and aesthetic integration

Near the building volumes, the compact surface accommodates necessary uses like emergency access and student break areas without becoming visible infrastructure. As one approaches the park, the design becomes more open, with permeable surfaces and natural rainwater management.

Connecting the campus to the park

A ring-shaped landscape system encircles the site, connecting it to the surrounding André-Malraux Park. This makes the campus a literal extension of the park, enhancing its integration into the neighborhood.