Renovating the school building of the Maison d'Education

Designed and inaugurated in 1985 by internationally renowned architects Claude Costantini and Michel Régembal, the school building of the Maison d’Education of Saint-Denis lies just below the former royal abbey, which houses 500 boarders. 

Forty years ago, these new spaces provided the Maison d’Education with functional and modern classrooms that complied with the French National Education standards. 

The school building is designed around a central garden dedicated to relaxation and a glass-enclosed thoroughfare that connects three rotundas, one for each academic level. The classrooms have an amphitheater layout to encourage interaction between students and teachers.

As boarders, the pupils spend most of the day in the classroom assigned to them for the whole year. It is used not only for class, but also for study periods and social time.

After forty years of use, the condition of the school building no longer allows for optimal and comfortable use by pupils and teachers. It has significant environmental and functional weaknesses: outdated and energy-intensive technical installations, poor sound and heat insulation, insufficient spaces for students, studying and school staff, and no disabled access. 

The renovation of the school building has several objectives: 

• Environmental: improving insulation, acoustics and energy efficiency, as well as reducing water consumption;
• Functional: improving ease of use, diversifying spaces for better learning conditions and optimizing flows;
• Architectural and landscaping: enhancing outdoor spaces and facilitating upkeep and maintenance, while respecting the original architecture of the building on a listed site.

The renovation will help provide students with working and living spaces that allow them to continue achieving outstanding results. It will also enable the school to reduce its energy consumption and operating costs.