Publication date: September 2020
Built for the Exposition Universelle of 1900 and dedicated "by the Republic to the glory of French art", the Grand Palais has become a key heritage and cultural site. Its exceptional dimensions (70,000 m2) and remarkable volumes (the biggest Nave in Europe at 13,500 m2, crowned with a 17,500-m2 glass roof) make it an outstanding site.
Historical and climatic fluctuations have made the renovation of the Grand Palais essential. Unlike many other historic buildings, it has never before undergone such a large-scale restoration, except for that of the Nave and its foundations by the Seine in the early 2000s. Weakened by wear over time, the Grand Palais is currently in a state of overall disrepair: its decorative elements have deteriorated, several glass panels are hidden from view and there is water damage to some of its walls. The work will restore the glass panelling, roofing, decorative elements and sculptures and will reinstate the building’s original architecture while bring it fully up to date.
The full upgrade to comply with standards and secure the monument (accessibility, heating and hygrometric regulations, power network, fire safety system, etc.) will allow the thousands of square metres that currently fall short of safety requirements to be used once again. More generally, the restructuring work will enable us to present the public with an augmented cultural programme and will improve accessibility conditions for all visitors, particularly those with reduced mobility.
In early 2021, the Grand Palais will close to begin its transformation. In 2024, the Nave of the Grand Palais will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The entire monument will be open to the public in spring 2025.
120 years after its creation, the Grand Palais is entering a new phase of its history.
