The ambitious project for Rouen's future Congress Center, first announced in 2023, is taking shape as the selected architectural firm has unveiled detailed plans for the facility. The Danish architecture firm BIG, based in Copenhagen, was chosen following an application process launched in mid-December 2023 to design what officials hope will become an iconic venue for the Norman city.
BIG, the renowned architecture agency responsible for notable projects including the Méca cultural center in Bordeaux and the new World Trade Center tower in New York, has presented the initial plans for the Congress Center. The building will be located on Nansen Street near the Kindarena, on the site currently occupied by a Lapeyre store, as identified by the Rouen Metropolis in early 2023.
The two-story building will span approximately 11,500 square meters and feature a distinctive sail-shaped roof, a clear nod to its proximity to the Seine River. "This is designed to be an iconic venue," explained Jacobsen, an architect with BIG agency. The interior will showcase wooden framework reminiscent of naval construction, similar in style to the roofing of Rouen's modern Joan of Arc Church. Jacobsen emphasized that the Congress Center is designed to "integrate perfectly into the Rouen landscape."
The facility will house an auditorium with a capacity of 1,400 people, a large restaurant on the first floor offering panoramic views of the Seine, an extensive exhibition hall, and various meeting rooms and commission chambers. The building will be surrounded by green spaces and a small park, reflecting the environmental priorities championed by the Rouen Metropolis as the project owner.
Environmental sustainability is a central focus of the design, with the roof featuring solar tiles to provide electricity for the site and geothermal technology using groundwater for heating. To address potential flood risks due to its proximity to the Seine, the building will be slightly elevated above ground level.
"This is an essential tool for developing business tourism," emphasized Christine de Cintré, president of Rouen Normandy Tourism and Congress. The project comes in response to growing demand, particularly from the Île-de-France region, and addresses what officials identified as a significant gap in the city's conference facilities.
Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, mayor of Rouen and president of the Rouen Normandy Metropolis, reiterated the necessity of such a Congress Center after recognizing the lack of adequate facilities to meet increasing demand. The project is estimated to cost €80 million, with construction expected to take approximately five years, though the mayor provided no specific timeline, noting the upcoming municipal elections as a factor in the schedule.
The Congress Center represents a major investment in Rouen's infrastructure and tourism capabilities, designed to attract business events and conferences while maintaining environmental responsibility and architectural harmony with the historic Norman city's landscape.
