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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Meurthe-et-Moselle, located 40 rue Henri-Poincaré in Nancy, is an emblematic building of Art Nouveau and the École de Nancy. Built between 1906 and 1908 by architects Louis Marchal and Émile Toussaint, it was jointly commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce and the Eastern Industrial Society, then a powerful regional organization. The project, selected after a competition launched in 1905, included major contributions: stained glass by Jacques Gruber, ironworks by Louis Majorelle, and glass pasta by Amalric Walter (firm Daum). The interior facades and decorations, inspired by the Lorrain landscapes, reflect the naturalistic and innovative aesthetics of the Nacen movement.

The building, inaugurated in June 1909, symbolizes the economic development of Lorraine in the early twentieth century. Its decorative program combines sculptures, glass windows and glass paste panelling, as in the Bourse Hall or the Council Chamber, where thistles adorn the panels. Between 1912 and 1913, a top floor was added, partially changing the initial appearance. Partially protected as early as 1994 (façades, marquise, staircase, stained glass), then extended in 2013, the building now embodies Nancy's industrial and artistic heritage, while still sheltering CCI services.

The building is part of a historical context marked by the 1898 Act, allowing KICs to promote regional development. In Nancy, the collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce and the Eastern Industrial Corporation — the most influential industrial union in the East — illustrates this dynamic. The architecture competition, reserved for local professionals (Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Vosges, Ardennes), reflects a desire for territorial anchoring. The artisans involved, such as Frédéric Schertzer (metal carpenter) or Petit (carpenter), come mostly from Lorraine, strengthening the regional character of the work.

The successive protections (registrations in 1994 and 2013, ranking of the Gruber stained glass windows in 1996) highlight the heritage value of the building. The glass windows on the ground floor, representing Lorrain landscapes, and Majorelle's ironworks (marquise, grids) are among the most remarkable elements. In 1979, part of the original furniture was transferred to the Nancy School Museum, demonstrating its historical importance. Today, the building remains an active place, welcoming the public at 53 Stanislas Street while preserving its Art Nouveau heritage.

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