In bringing our research and teaching activities together, the 1, Saint-Thomas site will foster a collaborative environment and promote interdisciplinarity. All members of the Sciences Po community—students, alumni, staff, faculty, public authorities and private partners—will be able to live the Sciences Po experience. This shared home base will highlight both the diversity of their activities and their complementary nature.
An exceptional heritage to develop and promote
The estate has seen four centuries of history since the Dominicans were established here in 1632. The coming renovations will seek to reveal the original structure and put all the past “lives” of the building on display by showcasing elements of great historical and heritage value. The authenticity of the facades will be preserved, the decor and gallery of the cloister restored, the landscaped areas corresponding to the kitchen garden and the cloister garth recreated, and the canons conserved to recall two centuries of military use.
Sciences Po, with project management assistance from JLL, selected the design project proposed by a team which combines architectural creativity and university design engineering :
- Sogelym Dixence (developer – builder)
- Agence Wilmotte & Associates (architects)
- Agence Moreau Kusunoki (architects)
- Cabinet Sasaki (architects)
- Pierre Bortolussi (chief architect at Monuments Historiques)
- Franck Boutté (sustainable development)
- MUGO (landscape architects)
- TO DO TODAY (digital)
Cour René Seydoux
The René Seydoux courtyard (previously Sébastopol courtyard) now has the name of the man who served as Secretary General of the École libre des sciences politiques from 1928 and 1936. it hosts the areas dedicated for researchers, allowing them calm and light.
The design mixes a sober landscaping with benches created by Colombian artist Iván Argote that contain messages designed by students.
Rachel Lambert Mellon garden
The garden was named in honor of an American donor who was a supported of the gardens of Georgetown University and of the White House in Washington DC. It now includes a hanging garden and a vegetable garden. The garden is organised in two levels. On its lower level, a semi-open path along the professional facilities of the School of Journalism.
The great Cour Gribeauval
The Cour Gribeauval is the centre of the new campus and connects the communal spaces: the library, incubator, Innovation Pavilion, and cafeteria. It’s a dynamic space that people cross a thousand times a day and an exceptional setting for holding events.
The Innovation Pavilion
This is the only new construction of the site. Supported by Ile de France Region, The Innovation Pavilion animated an integrated ecosystem centered on entrepreneurship, digital technology, and artificial intelligence. The upper levels of the building are named Mc Court Institute. The pavilion also houses the cafeteria, free work spaces and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
This new and innovative center, strongly connected to parisien ecosystem will multiply interactions between students, researchers, teachers and our partners to work on the subjects of innovation.
Les Salons Scientifiques
The salon bearing the name of Marguerite de Witt – Schlumberger is located in the building that separates the Cour René Seydoux and the Cour Gribeauval. It includes three ceremonial rooms which have been restored in accordance with historic standards. The rooms host all types if scientist events.
La Maison des Sciences Po
Located between the Cour René Seydoux and the Cour Gribeauval on the ground floor, the ‘Maison des Sciences Po’ is a reception and meeting space designed to bring together the external and internal communities, in particular donors, partners, partner foundations, with students and researchers.
The acquisition and renovation of 1, Saint-Thomas cost nearly €200 million :
- €100 million for the purchase of the site
- €90 million for its rehabilitation, of which 21 million comes from fundraising