The building located on Boulevard Raspail in the 6th arrondissement of Paris was constructed in 1968 by architects Lods, Depondt, Beauclair, and Malizard. It was vacated on December 31, 2010, to undergo asbestos removal work.

Anticipating the future protection of the building as a Historic Monument, particularly for its facade, the project owner commissioned a consortium composed of Pierre-Antoine Gatier’s agency and T/E/S/S engineering studio to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the building’s condition and functionality. The aim was to explore restoration possibilities and assess the reuse of facade elements, which are among the building’s most remarkable features.

The study aimed to provide a detailed assessment of the facade modules, including:

Joinery, folding shutters, hardware, and opening mechanisms,
Material composition (glazing, insulation elements, etc.).
The facade system was highly innovative for its time, foreshadowing modern unitized curtain wall systems. Additionally, an ingenious mechanism enabled solar control through the operation of sliding folding shutters.

The mission also included the monitoring of a test deconstruction phase. This pilot phase, conducted during asbestos removal, aimed to:

Identify the most appropriate disassembly method considering the condition of the components and their contamination level,
Define a strategy for reinstallation after refurbishment and repairs.
These trials led to the development of a technical specification document, outlining:

Recommended treatments,
Potential improvements,
Preferred intervention and storage methods for the facade elements.
This document provides guidelines for the future renovation project.

The results of this project exemplify a comprehensive audit and diagnostic study for a modern building of significant heritage value, ensuring the preservation and functional enhancement of its architectural features.