Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Zamansky Tower, also known as the Jussieu Tower, is an emblematic building in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, located in the heart of the Pierre-et-Marie-Curie campus. It is 90 metres high (93 meters with its antennas), has 28 levels and ranks as the 115th highest building in Île-de-France. She was named after Marc Zamansky, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences in Paris between 1963 and 1970. Originally designed in the 1950s to meet the expansion needs of the faculty, its construction was modified after the death of Edward Albert and completed in 1970 by architects Cassan, Coulon and Richard.

In the 2000s the tower was the subject of a debate on its destruction due to its low profitability, but its continuation was decided for lack of equivalent alternatives. From 2004, it was completely renovated between 2006 and 2009 under the direction of architect Thierry Van de Wyngaert. Reinaugurated in 2009, it now houses the administrative services of Sorbonne-Université, born from the merger of Paris-IV and Paris-VI universities. Some spaces, such as a panoramic room on the 23rd floor, are rented for events.

The Zamansky Tower also hosted sports competitions, such as a vertical race in 2016 marking the reopening of the campus. A male record (2 min 26 s) and a female record (3 min 35 s in 2024) were established. In 2018, a record time was achieved with 10 full round trips plus 6 floors, totaling 286 floors climbed in one hour. These events highlight its status as a symbol of the campus.

Today, the tower embodies both the heritage of the 1970s and university modernity. Its initially controversial architecture is now a landmark for students and Parisians. It also illustrates the challenges of the rehabilitation of university heritage, between preservation and adaptation to contemporary needs.

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