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Launch of the Station Marne student life hub

Updated on: 15/10/2024

The new student life hub on the Victoire campus, located in the heart of Bordeaux, was inaugurated on Tuesday 17th September. This multi-purpose complex is destined to become an essential part of university life, while also remaining open to the city.

Photo : Christine Bost, President of Bordeaux Métropole, Dean Lewis, President of the University of Bordeaux, Anne Bisagni-Faure, Rector of the Académie de Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, Mayor of Bordeaux, Gérard Blanchard, Vice-President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region © Gautier Dufau — Christine Bost, President of Bordeaux Métropole, Dean Lewis, President of the University of Bordeaux, Anne Bisagni-Faure, Rector of the Académie de Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, Mayor of Bordeaux, Gérard Blanchard, Vice-President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region © Gautier Dufau

Station Marne has taken the place of the former Dental Science Faculty, which has been located on the Carreire campus since 2018. The building, built in the 1950s, has been extensively transformed into a multi-purpose student centre spanning over 4,200 m² and four levels. It features a central auditorium seating four hundred, which will be used for teaching and conferences, as well as for live performances thanks to a 140 m² stage.

The Station Marne auditorium, 400 seats and a large stage for multiple uses © Gautier Dufau

Station Marne is also home to a four hundred seat library, optimised for student work thanks to both collective and individual spaces, with the possibility of books being delivered from other university libraries in the metropolitan area for on-site consultation.

Sports facilities for fitness and dance, social and community areas and a multi-purpose hall: all been designed primarily for student associations, but will also be accessible to the general public from time to time. Station Marne embodies the University of Bordeaux's desire to open up to the local community.

A university library with numerous group work areas © Gautier Dufau
The Station Marne library also offers individual workspaces where students can work in peace and quiet © Gautier Dufau
Station Marne offers rooms dedicated to sports (fitness and dance in particular) © Gautier Dufau

One of our university's priorities is to create vibrant hubs for our students, similar to the one inaugurated in Carreire in 2023. Station Marne embodies the concept of universities within cities and addresses the challenges of student well-being; it will significantly enhance student life while promoting knowledge and culture.

Dean Lewis, President of the University of Bordeaux

An ambitious project made possible thanks to the Bordeaux 'Opération Campus'

For the conceptualisation of this new space, entrusted to architects Atelier Cambium and Deshoulières Jeanneau, the decision was made to transform the former Dental Science Faculty building rather than demolish it. This approach significantly reduced the ecological impact of the project, with the added benefit of preserving heritage elements such as the murals by painter André Lothe and other mural artworks.

With a total cost of 18.21 million euros, the renovation was funded as part of the Bordeaux 'Opération Campus' initiative, the French State, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Bordeaux Métropole, and the European Investment Bank. The project management was carried out by the University of Bordeaux (SRIA mandate*).

*SRIA: Real Estate and Development Company of the University of Bordeaux

Station Marne embodies a spirit of modernity in both its student welcome facilities and its architecture. The space reflects an ethos of openness to life and the city.

Anne Bisagni-Faure, Rector of the Académie de Bordeaux, Chancellor of Universities