This remarkable building, built in 1878 for the Universal Exhibition, has been inscribed in the inventory of Historic Monuments since 1985.
Now disused, it will host The City of Travel and Entrepreneurship which is defined as a third place, that is a welcoming site with not only a coworking space in a “box in the box” concept, but also a ground floor open to everybody.
In terms of buildings, the concept allows for the separation of "lobby" and "coworkers" workspaces. The organization of the place allows a passive approach to the refreshing of the hall and a high-performance thermal treatment for the workspaces.
 
Experts of the French know-how in steel construction, the building will be restored by Eiffage Métal and Pradeau Morin Monuments Historiques.
 
The Eiffage Métal teams carried out the study of the restoration of the open enclosure including:
- the metal structures
- the glass parts
- enamelled metal or terracotta ornaments
 
The expertise of Pradeau Morin Monuments Historiques was sought for the masonry parts of the work and the ornamentation. Their teams are in charge of the main and secondary works.
 
The project was designed by CAWA Architecture, JAAG Architectes, Antoine Monnet, Martin Brunnelle Architecte du Patrimoine, Rodolphe de Warenghien, Arnaud Galezowski, BET TCE Projex, BET environnement Diagobat, Coefficient économiste.
 
This rehabilitation will be exceptional, thanks to the integration of current challenges - such as the necessary reversibility of the place and its suitability to environmental expectations -, allowing the project to be integrated into a coherent and economically approach.
 
The respectful restoration and the definition of a new use will ensure the sustainability of the building for future generations.
 
Construction work will begin in 2021 for 2 years.