This new « concept space » is located at the Jean Jaurès site of Léon Blum High School, strategically situated near the university campus that focuses on research activities in the field of technological innovations and is home to several industrial groups.

The inclusion of the extension and its relationship with the building of the historical significance of the old high school are identified challenges of the program. These challenges aim to create the « showcase » space for the Creusot-Monceau-les Mines territory, looking towards the future while building upon its past.

Different elements of the program are arranged around a central atrium and are grouped into identifiable clusters. The digital space expands vertically into the void across two access levels. Training spaces and the Fab-Lab are easily accessible, and distributed between the first two levels. The business hotel and startup incubator are located opposite the 3D platform and the work platform on the first floor. Finally, offices dedicated to site management and co-working spaces are located on the top level and benefit from a large terrace facing the landscape. Generally speaking, workshop spaces are located in the extension, while more generic spaces are situated in the existing building.

Since 1961, the more than 5,000-square-meter structure has been imposing presence at the foot of the Bastille site, overlooking the city of Grenoble. The former geological building of the university was closed in 2001. It was auctioned off by the state in June 2016 and eventually purchased by the Marseille-based developer Axis.

After an extensive renovation that lasted nearly three years, the six-story complex now offers a range of services under the Babel Community concept. This includes 137 co-living apartments, a co-working space with 100 workstations coupled with three meeting rooms (which are also open to external businesses), an Events space, a fitness room, a terrace bar that serves as the reception area on the ground floor, as well as a rooftop panoramic restaurant.

The project aims to respect the building’s original character. The exterior has been preserved, maintaining its original aesthetic, including large bay windows that provide views of the city of Grenoble and the surrounding mountains. This renovation and repurposing effort has been comprehensive, spanning structural improvements, internal redesign, and the addition of modern amenities, all while paying homage to the building’s historical significance and visual impact on the landscape.

The causes were discovered following an in-depth structural diagnosis performed by AXIOLIS. Indeed, network leaks caused soil leaching and masonry damage. As a result, AXIOLIS oversaw geotechnical studies to evaluate whether geotechnical reinforcement was required in conjunction with superstructure reinforcement. AXIOLIS used connected sensors to monitor the actual movements of the two structures. Following an in-depth review of the data, it was determined that geotechnical reinforcements (resin injection) should be avoided because the superstructure work had greatly stabilized the structure.

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