Bouygues-led consortium for City of Music

A consortium headed by Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France has been awarded a €170 million contract to finance, design and build the City of Music on Seguin Island in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris.

The consortium consists of Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France, Sodexo, TF1 and OFI InfraVia.

The contract, awarded by the Hauts-de-Seine Department, includes building the new cultural facility as well as artistic development and commercial operation for a period of 27 years.

This new 36,500m² musical facility has been designed by architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines and will combine concert halls, spaces for music teaching and training, recording studios, a seminar centre, restaurants and shops.

A large sail bearing more than 1,000m² photovoltaic solar panels, surrounding the auditorium, will follow the path of the sun. The City of Music will also offer a promenade area open to the general public.

Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, will be responsible for the design and construction of the City of Music. The works will begin in March 2014 and conclude in June 2016.

TF1 and Sodexo will provide the management and operation of the City of Music, with TF1 also handling artistic direction.

Sodexo will also be responsible for ensuring the durability and maintenance of the structure as well as all the services provided to residents, artists, spectators and corporate users.

OFI InfraVia, a specialised infrastructure investment fund, is the principal shareholder in the consortium.