The modernisation of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is beginning to take shape. This project, which was initiated in May 2015 by Viparis and the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP), aims to keep the leadership in the French capital on the business tourism market and strengthen the sector's contribution to the Paris Region economy. " We wanted to give the exhibition centre a facelift and project it into the future, both more open to Paris and the surrounding towns, and greener, with five hectares of green roof. It's time for a major makeover," explains Christophe Cuvillier, Chairman of the Management Board of Unibail Rodamco. Running until 2024, with no closures or cancellations of events, the metamorphosis is beginning to take shape with the completion of the first of the three phases of these major works.
The Paris Convention Centre is due to open in the autumn, one of the major developments at the exhibition centre, is currently being completed in a revamped Pavilion 7. "While respecting the brutalist architecture of the site, it is the result of the renovation of a building from the 1970s to adapt it to the contemporary era and open it up to the outside world."As Jean Pistre, the architect and co-founder of Valode & Pistre in charge of the project, explains. Housed on the top floor of the exhibition pavilion, Europe's largest future convention centre will be able to seat 5,200 people in its plenary hall, with the special feature of being bathed in natural light from its roof. natural light. The space, which can be completely darkened if required, is surrounded by other modular areas that can be partitioned off to provide space for large-scale events. " Convention centres are often underground or hidden from the light. Here, the Paris Convention Centre will have no equivalent. It's a great way to relax," says Didier Kling, Chairman of the CCIP. Visitors will also be able to relax in the garden on the roof of the pavilion.
The aim of the Paris Convention Centre is to significantly increase the capacity of the city to host major conferences which, until now, could not be held in the French capital. So, while the Porte Maillot Convention Centre can accommodate between 5,000 and 10,000 delegates - an extension is currently being considered - Paris will now be able to bid to host events ranging from a small conference to a large international event. up to 35,000 people. The World Congress of Cardiology, with its 33,000 participants, is already expected to take place in 2019. On the other hand, the two lower floors, offering 44,000 m2 of exhibition space, will make it possible to "showcase the world's leading cardiology centres". capitalise on the "confex" trend, with conferences increasingly adding an "exhibition" dimension "explains Michel Dessolain, Managing Director of Viparis. In addition to these major congresses, the Paris Convention Centre will also be able to host large corporate events such as world conventions organised by major multinationals.
The key feature of this first phase of work is the convention centre, but it is not the only new feature awaiting visitors to Porte de Versailles. After two years of work, the reception area has been redesigned as a place where people can meet and exchange ideas around a gigantic ring of LEDs 40 metres in diameter as a signpost. The façade of pavilion 1 is draped in a large metallic sail in silver and gold designed by Dominique Perrault.
As part of its modernisation, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has called on the services of France's greatest architects. The second phase of work, due to start next summer and be completed in 2019, will see the demolition of pavilions 6 and 8 to make way for a new site, the façade of which will be designed by Jean Nouvel. Then, in a third phase, Christian de Portzamparc will create a new pavilion, due to be completed in 2024, from the demolition of pavilions 2 and 3. At the same time, two hotels - a Mama Shelter and a Novotel - will be built and are expected to open in 2018, in addition to a gourmet restaurant overseen by Michelin-starred chef Guy Martin. In the meantime, a new five-star hotel will be built in the famous Triangle tower, on which work could start in 2018.
