Higher Education and University Center, Le Havre building, France Sciences-Politiques development, French architecture

Center for Higher Education and University Researches of Le Havre

French Education Development design by Christian Hauvette – be paris

Design: Christian Hauvette – be paris

Location: Le Havre, France

Ecoles – Université Le Havre

This new French higher education building is made of two twin elements, side by side, centralizing three establishments: the campus of Sciences-Politiques for undergrad education and the two schools SPI (Sciences for engineers) and INSA-Civil engineering.

Center for Higher Education and University Researches of Le Havre building:

photo : Sebastien Morel

15 Apr 2013

Le Havre Higher Education and University Center

The architects eventually proposed to group together the three institutions in two different entities unified in one single building. This emblem – public facilities – is first characterized by its large size, its height, and its length. It develops a “critical mass” in accordance with its ambition and investment.

To help with this process, the architects clearly decided to extend the front line of the building on “Réunion” wharf and “Bain des docks” street in order to create a public place for both buildings, providing an access to the Eure basin and facing the city. The forecourt sheltered by the overhang of the building protects the entrances of the three schools. Therefore, the new education center is aiming at the city and it can also be seen from downtown Le Havre.

photos : Sebastien Morel

To get onto its morphology, the building is composed of a large and rectangular two-storey flat hall, topped by a three-storey porch-like building, in order to create a raised roof and cantilever overhangs. Both linear entrance halls are highlighted by the cut of the first two floors on the forecourt. The glazed façade of these halls is precisely aligned with the “bain des docks” building, at the opposite of the street.

The building is about 80 meters long and 60 meters large. The overhanging cantilever volume gives the building an intriguing feeling of a high degree of proficiency in construction techniques.

photos : Sebastien Morel

Ecoles Université Le Havre – Building Information

Client: CODAH
Architect: Christian Hauvette – be paris
Security And Fire Control: CETE APAVE Nord-Ouest
Economist: Bureau Michel Forgue
Structural Engineering: BATISERF
HVAC: ALTO
Sustainability: ALTO
Acoustic Engineering: Acoustique Yves Hernot

Photographer: Sebastien Morel

Le Havre Higher Education and University Center information / images from Baumschlager Eberle

Le Havre Building design : Baumschlager Eberle

Location: Le Havre, France, north western Europe