Bibliothèque interuniversitaire Sorbonne library building architecture design interior view
studio Ballif
Library Details
Basic Information
Type
University library
Year of opening
2013
Total Cost
37,500,000 EUR
Location/Address
University / Institution
Université Paris I. Panthéon-Sorbonne
Address
17 Rue de la Sorbonne
75005 Paris
France
Project Story
Main Motications and Objectives

The starting point for the renovation of the 1902 buiding by Henri-Paul Nénot was the need for security and hygienic conditions, as well as the upgrading of the installations (electricity, plumbing). Access to disabled people would be solved. An ambitious restoration operation was undertaken, that woul also allow new uses like cafeteria, training rooms, or group working rooms.

Characteristics/Description

Location inside the Sorbonne building.

Rectangular plan
Eiffel steel and concrete structure built by Henri-Paul Nénot (1885-1897)
extension of stacks and first refurbishment: 1930-1932
2nd extension of stacks: 1970-1972

Publications
Awards
New Project Data
Type
Renovation
Competition
No
Architect/s
  • Thierry Algrin / Alain Del Zotto

Total Floor Area
8,505 m2
Floor Area Open to Public
Shelving Capacity Open Stacks
200 linear meters
Shelving Capacity Closed Stacks
34,500 linear meters
Number of Staff
130 FTE
Total Seating Capacity
576
Group Study Rooms
Individual Study Rooms

Opening
Additional Features
Special Rooms

16 places for researchers, 4 places for microforms. The training room is easily transformable into a 190 sq.m room by removing the doors linking training and researchers’ room.

Special Features
Additional Comments

Property of Paris City Council. Construction : 1885-1902, Henri-Paul Nénot, architect. Architects were selected out of references. Opening : December, 29th 1897. There is a bad balance between open spaces and stacks collections, on one hand, and between open and restricted access documents. There are 3 stacks: 2 towers of 8 levels eachone, and stacks in 5 main levels underneath the ground level.