Administrative center – Thiry Barracks

The renovation of Nancy's administrative center is part of a national program to renovate administrative centers across France. Architecturestudio's mission is to transfer the administrative center's services to the Caserne Thiry, a neighboring building that has been renovated.

Covering an area of 17,000 m², the project includes the renovation of the two side buildings of the Thiry Barracks, which date back to the 18th century and frame the Champs de Mars. The latter, which opens onto Rue Sainte-Catherine, occupies a prominent place in the city with an area of 1.25 hectares. The program aims to enhance the existing structure by respecting the building and its surroundings, while adapting the interior layout of the preserved buildings to their new functions.

Among the issues presented by such an old building, the main difficulty lay in resolving problems related to lighting the premises. The conservation and redevelopment of landscaped areas, including the Place d'Armes, were also major elements of this major renovation project. Upon entering the administrative complex, visitors are guided by clear signage to the various buildings and access their central areas. The project preserves the existing partition walls, which are partially opened up to free up the floors and clear the interior space, as well as the staircases. The walls bordering the central circulation area will be demolished to ensure flexibility of layout and natural light in the central part. The main objective is to preserve and enhance the existing spans. The program also includes a strong focus on reuse: interior and exterior joinery, flooring, false ceiling tiles, switches, radiators, sanitary equipment, etc. In addition, the renovation of the administrative complex will involve close collaboration with a number of local companies: France-Lanord & Bichaton, KELLER, LORRY, ppe, Vibrac, Lagarde Meregnani, Réciprocité, and AJir Environnement.

Finally, the architectural proposal takes into account changes in working methods over time. The central space is freed up and becomes an active strip that integrates the local services needed by each entity: reprographics areas, local archives, dead archives, etc. This active strip will become a multifunctional open space and will host social activities, informal workspaces, a reading area, telephone booths, etc.