It is not a vast hangar, nor just another structure in a Strasbourg district in the making. No, the long-awaited Parc des Expositions (PEX) in Strasbourg must become a must for future national and even international events, a place of reference for the organization of business events such as trade shows, fairs, meetings, meetings professional and even leisure.
This is in any case the announced intention of the mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian and the president of the Eurometropolis Pia Imbs present for a first major site visit on Tuesday. “The competition in which we evolve is national, European, and international also underlined Christophe Caillaud-Joos, general manager of Strasbourg Events to whom is entrusted the management of the PEX. Today, we need this equipment to pick up, bring people, and introduce as many people as possible to our territory. »
Opening September 2
The PEX will be delivered in June after nearly 18 months of work. This 20,000 m2 building will open its doors to the general public for the long-awaited Strasbourg European Fair scheduled for September 2. If necessary, the Pex can even count on the Palace of Music and Congress right next door, and reach the 23,000 m2 available. Located in town, behind the Hilton, in an area that already has many “big” structures such as the Regional Council, the Maillon theatre, the new Archipel 2 district of the Wacken district… It is also on the green belt of the agglomeration, immediately bordering the Aare canal, easily accessible and well served by public transport.
Concretely, the structure made of a metal frame, large bay windows and wood, fits perfectly into the landscape. From the entrance, the volumes impress. An entrance, cradled in natural light with a dizzying height under the ceiling, which radically changes from the old exhibition center which was the complete opposite. The Strasbourg PEX is turned, contrary to what “is usually practiced, towards the outside, underlines the architect of the agency Kengo Kuma Matthieu Wotling.
This vast entrance will easily allow future visitors to find their way around while remaining “connected to the exterior and sober environment, both in its architectural language but also in its energy impact. Moreover, it is its low environmental impact which is one of the other strengths of this PEX. The need for heating and electricity will be halved thanks to energy-saving insulation and the use of cooling techniques by “geocooling” and natural ventilation, but also thanks to a connection to the adjacent biomass boiler room.
Nearly 5,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels will also be installed on part of the gigantic panoramic terrace. The energy produced in excess should even make it possible to supply the greenhouses of the Orangerie and the PMC. And to conclude this project, one year after its delivery, a multi-storey car park next to the building should see the light of day.