In March 2021, after a hectic century, the Grand Palais closed its doors to embark on a major phase of works. This will last until the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic games, for the Nave and its surrounding galleries, and until spring 2025 for the rest of the monument. Historical and climatic fluctuations have made this restoration essential, as the monument is weakened, fragmented and in a state of overall disrepair. 121 years after its creation, the Grand Palais is writing a new chapter of its story. 

The Grand Palais renovation and standards compliance project, entrusted to Chief Architect for Historical Monuments, François Chatillon, was refined in early 2021 after it was given a new direction in 2020. The structuring principles of the architectural programme were confirmed:

− Renovate the building to ensure it complies with applicable fire safety and accessibility standards;

− Restore the building s historic circuits, from north to south (Champs-Elysées Seine connection) and east to west (connection between the Nave of the Grand Palais and the Palais de la Découverte);

− Restore the Nave to increase capacity and control temperatures;

− Create a single entrance for the public to both the Grand Palais and the Palais de la Découverte.

The project is also representative of the post-Covid architecture that aims to provide ample circulation spaces.

This project reinforces the initial cultural ambitions of the new Grand Palais and incorporates those of the Palais de la Découverte, through a project that brings together the arts and sciences. The exhibition spaces will be fully restored to technical and accessibility standards to improve the public s visiting experience, around artistic and cultural projects redesigned by each institution. The links between the Rmn Grand Palais exhibitions, the engagement offer, cultural programming and all the events hosted at the Grand Palais will be consolidated. Vast areas will be opened up and freely accessible to the public. They will be designed and arranged into dynamic and lively people- friendly spaces. The project will develop new offers such as immersive exhibitions. The Galerie des Enfants (Children s Gallery), led jointly by the Rmn Grand Palais and Universcience, along with the engagement workshops, testify to the high priority given in the renovation

project to artistic and cultural education. The museographic offering of the Palais de la Découverte will be based on the scientific and cultural project developed by Universcience.

A hybrid venue for events and exhibitions, a republican venue that has lived through the entire 20th century, a venue fragmented over the course of its history the Grand Palais will, through this renovation, become a major cultural venue in Paris once again, offering a new and multidisciplinary programme and a new visitor experience. It will become a platform for a dialogue between the arts, the creative and cultural industries and the sciences in order to shine a light on the issues of the contemporary world and outline future perspectives.

The interior layouts of the Grand Palais were the subject of a broad consultation, and the team made up of Atelier Senzu, the designer Samy Rio and the firm 2X4 was selected in autumn 2021. This team will be in charge of designing furnishings, signage and the layouts of the dedicated public reception areas, including the ticket office and the bookstores and shops, as well as the auditoriums and cultural engagement spaces. Calls to tender were launched in April, with the principal companies appointed in October and November. A total of 39 work packages were allocated, with eight still to be allocated in 2022, alongside the launch of additional operations covering the loggias, the Salon d Honneur and the pools outside. Calls to tender for the appointment of concession holders for the two restaurants that will be located inside the Grand Palais were also launched in 2021.

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