The City Hall building was constructed between 1772 and 1776 on the site of a former 16th-century hospital, as part of the Champagne-city's beautification project at the time to create a genuine provincial capital. The king took on the construction, and the city provided the materials.

Designed by architect Jean-Nicolas Louis Durand, the building's facade is divided into three sections: a front section with six Ionic columns, a pediment, and two wings – all in the classical French style. The pediment is decorated with an allegory of the city. A woman adorned with a crown of turrets is surrounded by putti, which symbolize the treasures of the region: the grapes for the vineyards, and the wheat for agriculture. On the steps, Antoine Lépine sculpted four lions in 1778.

Extensions and restorations make it possible to enhance old buildings by offering them the means to accommodate all audiences.

This proposal made it possible to resolve a large part of the accessibility and safety issues without having to carry out a major interior restructuring, which would have resulted in demolitions damages to the building.

The stone plinth, the glass facades reflecting those of the building, and the cladding of the structural brass core provide a subtle contemporary touch that, through its materials and colors, blends into its host site. This has inscribed the building into its current time period.

Location
Châlons-en-Champagne

Project type
Extension and Restoration

Program
Administration

Project owner
City of Châlons-en-Champagne

Team
Chatillon Architectes

Budget
2.6 M€ HT

Timeline
2009-2014