International competition regarding the renovation of the Montparnasse Tower

The EITMM (Ensemble Immobilier Tour Maine-Montparnasse) launches June 16th an international competition for architects worldwide with regards to the renovation of the Montparnasse Tower, a symbol of the French capital. The designation of the laureate is expected for spring 2017.

A call for an unprecedented project

The co-owners of EITMM have decided to restore the Monparnasse Tower, Paris’ first skyscraper constructed 40 years ago, to its former glory. “All of the proposals from the international competition are possible – we’re accepting surprises!”, states Jean-Marie Duthilleul, Architect Project Coordinator. Any architect can apply. In order to guide them in their final decision, the co-owners will consult the city of Paris, as well as the mayors of three neighbouring districts (6th, 14th and 15th). They will also be supported by a steering committee made up of different civil society leaders (e.g. real estate professionals, architects, town planners and artists).

A complete renovation

The competition launched by the EITMM co-owners concerns the entire Tower starting with its façade, the reconfiguration of the bottom of the building to improve the quality of its reception areas and finally upgrading the Tower to standards. This large-scale renovation project represents a unique opportunity to definitively turn the page on asbestos and to respond in an exemplary way to usage, accessibility and energy performance. It is a huge reconstruction project that is estimated at over 300 M€, which is 100% funded by the co-owners.

The first stone of a flagship project, Demain Montparnasse

With regards to the competition, Jean-Louis Missika, Assistant to the Mayor of Paris, said, “We welcome this competition that will breathe new life into the Montparnasse Tower and adapt its usage to the 21st century. The renovation of the Tower is an opportunity to initiate a thorough transformation of the area in terms of public spaces, traffic and programming and it will also be an opportunity to turn the page on the ‘above the street urban planning’ that has alienated Parisians living in the Montparnasse neighbourhood.”

The renovation of the Montparnasse Tower is the first building block of a much larger project that aims to restore the surrounding property’s place in the urban centre, modern and accessible, in the heart of the left bank of Paris. In October 2015, the EITMM co-owners officialised their willingness to reinvent the surrounding property through an ambitious project of great magnitude – Demain Montparnasse. Currently under development, this project is elaborated in tandem with the City of Paris and all of the stakeholders concerned for the betterment of Paris and improved living for its inhabitants. Whatever the outlines of the final project, the Montparnasse Tower will remain the flagship of the surrounding property that will become the Demain Montparnasse.

To find out more about the contest rules and terms and conditions, architect candidates are invited to contact the following address : concourstour[at]demainmontparnasse.fr
Application deadline: Wednesday July 13th, 2016.

About EITMM

The Ensemble Immobilier Tour Maine-Montparnasse (EITMM) is one of the most important private commercial real estate co-ownerships in Europe. It is organized into five homeowners associations (one primary association and one secondary association by building) with around 300 owners (some have several floors and others a parking lot) and 450 company occupants. The EITMM is spread out over a total of 2.5 hectares in central Paris. It consists of four buildings: the Montparnasse Tower, the mall, the CIT Tower and an office building.