In the presence of #MichaëlRUEL, President of MJ Développement; #JeanETCHEPAREBORDE, CEO of MJ Développement; #LucALBOUY, Architect at France; #ManuelGEORGESand #JeanCharlesFOELLNERfrom MG Promotion – JCF Holding; #GillesGRANDJEANfrom NOMARD; #GillesGIOVENCO, from the Giovenco architecture studio and Atelier Sud Architecture,#AnastasiaMULLER, from Atelier Muju, interior designer, the representatives of the host institutions of Grasse Campus, representatives of the Université Côte d’Azur, #ValérieLOUBAT, Director of Higher Education and Research Development at Grasse Campus, and Mr. and Mrs. ROUTIER, gathered together for the launch of the renovation project to transform the former Grasse prison into a student residence
Because youth is a source of strength, we have decided to draw on its vitality to revitalize downtown Grasse by expanding higher education. This is a strategic pillar of the regional development plan designed for the Pays de Grasse region and led by the Urban Community, also aimed at meeting the needs of the local business community, which is eager to attract talent. This led to the creation of the “Higher Education and Research Development (DESR)” administrative department and, with it, the idea of establishing a multi-site regional student campus.
The momentum we’ve built continues, benefiting all stakeholders. We aspire to create a virtuous cycle, and that is why we are gathered here today in front of this former prison.
The development of higher education is a powerful driving force; it makes our region increasingly attractive and creates human and economic wealth everywhere.
When we launched this regional campus project, our goal was clear: to turn Grasse into an open-air university campus with more than 1,000 students by 2024—all living in the city center, all regular visitors to existing or future cultural facilities: the heritage library, the theater, the convention center, the MIP, the media library…
It was also important to give our high school students in Grasse the opportunity to continue their education in our beautiful region. We are very proud of our high schools: Amiral de Grasse, Alexis de Tocqueville, Francis de Croisset, and Léon Chiris Fénelon.
Today, the project is taking shape in a tangible way with the creation of a true student neighborhood right here.
Here we have the Courthouse, which for many years stood next to the prison and the gendarmerie and closed its doors in 1998. For several years, the Palace served as a stopgap solution for municipal departments constantly in need of space: the Human Resources Department, our museums’ storage areas, the cultural services department… But never during those 20 years was there an overarching vision to showcase this building and restore it to a flagship use that honors the four criteria that guided its construction: functionality, symmetry, proportion, and educational value.
That goal has now been achieved with the building’s renovation, transforming it into a suitable, modern, and innovative higher education facility in line with contemporary higher education standards. We welcome nearly 500 students across an area of more than 3,000 m², and prestigious schools such as#ECAM, #EPMI, #ISCAE, #IDRAC, and #EFCAM, which benefit from the multimedia facilities, the fablab, the common areas, the welcome center, and the two lecture halls. At the start of the new academic year, #CNAM, #ISIPCA, #SUPDECOM, and others will join us in this dynamic initiative.
As part of this initiative, the former gendarmerie will also be renovated to serve as an extension of our Le Palais campus, where new schools will be established by 2025.
To facilitate the integration of new schools, our strategy is based on three Grasse Campus programs designed to benefit students:
-Grasse Campus Academy to establish and strengthen partnerships between host institutions, the economic and industrial ecosystem, and learners.
Grasse Campus Life, a true facilitator of students' daily lives,
Grasse Campus Housing, which assists students in their search for housing and helps them settle into the area, notably through its online platform, which serves as a bridge between landlords and students.
In fact, housing is a key factor in choosing a field of study; it is essential to provide students with the best possible conditions so they can focus on their studies and reach their full potential.
That is why we have decided to take concrete steps to develop student housing in the heart of the city—housing that is accessible to everyone and offers comfortable living conditions conducive to academic success.
To that end, we are working closely with donors, as well as real estate developers and investors, to ensure that the properties we offer are located near our campuses. We are firmly committed to showcasing our architectural heritage, just as we have done with our campus, the Palais, and the Visitation site, and just as we will do in the future with the former gendarmerie and, together with you, with the former prison.
This former prison, which dates back to the 19th century, bears witness to the history of the city of Grasse and its architectural heritage. Its conversion into student housing will preserve the building while honoring its history, all while offering an attractive and unique housing solution that provides students with a safe environment equipped with amenities designed for their comfort and in compliance with environmental standards.
This project to renovate the former Grasse prison, led by the developer MJ Développement—to whom I extend my heartfelt thanks—is an innovative and ambitious project for our city. Thanks to you, we are breathing new life into a historic building while meeting students’ housing needs with 77 units ranging from 14 square meters to 23 square meters, spread across two buildings.
The former Grasse jail is part of Grasse’s remarkable heritage. Tomorrow, thanks to this iconic building, an entire neighborhood will be transformed: people will be able to study, live, and enjoy the nightlife right in the heart of the city, with beautifully restored public spaces that invite people to stroll and allow everyone to enjoy this exceptional environment.
As you can see, this initiative is at the heart of our strategy to build the region’s resilience and enhance its influence. Resilience that must be characterized by training the local population and attracting a new generation of students. Influence through a city center that is undergoing transformation.
We want to give our young people the opportunity to focus on their studies, get involved in extracurricular activities, and build lasting relationships with their peers. This is an ambitious project, but it is essential.
We know that challenges lie ahead, but it is only by working together—and by bringing all relevant stakeholders on board—that we will be able to overcome them.
I look forward to seeing you on October 6, just a few meters from here, to kick off Phase 3 of the Grasse Campus project and continue transforming our town into a college town.
