65,000 m2 floor, 40,000 m2 surface area, 40,000 m²3 of poured concrete, 90% of which is low carbon, 15,500 deliveries, 8,000 tons of steel, 850 km of electrical cables and more than 150 companies working on site, with up to 700 partners present at the same time at the height of work… More than 10 years after the laying of the first stone, The new building of the Princess Grace Hospital Center was born !
This Monday, July 13, Prince Albert II symbolically handed over the keys to this new work to the hospital staff. Because it was important for the Principality to celebrate this event. ” an important step into the future of the country »in the words of the Emperor.
And it’s not for nothing that the construction of this new building is a feat. A feat whose secret lies in Monaco. On the side of a cliff. “In general, all construction sites in Monaco present a challenge… but this one brings them all together.”– announces Céline Caron-Dagioni, Government Adviser – Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning.
It all started in the 2000s. Under the leadership of Prince Albert II, the Princely Government set to work to think of a new environment capable of supporting the ever-growing activities of the CHPG, and this, with the excellence that characterizes the establishment (recommendation 93.1% in 2025, editor’s note).
The problem of Avenue Pasteur
But the first serious problem arises. “Before this new building there was emptiness here”represented by the minister. But nearby was and is Avenue Pasteur. “She actually passed by the establishment, so first we had to change the route »– she continues.
For this “The first thing to do was build a work of art » continues Vincent Chaigneau, architectural director of the AIA Life Designers project. “With this, we were able to create an area, more or less a rectangular space, where we could start construction, lay the foundation, combining several levels of parking.”
“It hasn’t been a smooth ride.”
It’s 2015, that’s it. work in progress. Prior to this, all the complex logistics were thought out by the stakeholders, taking into account the geographical location of the site.
“It was real logistics problem than to transport all the materials. We knew from the very beginning that it would be difficult. Because we couldn’t store it locally. An entire methodology has been developed to ensure optimal just-in-time performance. For the first time, the government has appointed a logistician to overcome these constraints, just like in a traditional production line. It was not a long and quiet river, but with the power of the collective, we found the right solutions »– confirms Celine Caron-Dagioni.
Let patients and staff experience the construction site in the best possible conditions.
Another mission marked the mission of peace. Obviously this is appropriate in a hospital setting. “One of the main topics was acoustic comfort. The government intended to double most of the old building’s windows facing the construction site… but we realized we needed to cover a larger area. The government did this, but it was sure to be late.”– emphasizes Benoit Rousseau de Seveling, Director of CHPG.
The lobby of the new building includes several circular islands, always striving for a gentle welcoming experience for patients.
Cyril Dodergny / Nice-Matin
She also points out that while working in a hospital managed to maintain its activities in fullThis is despite various other projects associated with CHPG. The site’s parking lots have also been converted into a “living base” for workers. “So that hospital workers can work without meeting employees”– clarifies Celine Caron-Dagioni.
The objective of the new hospital was also to be able to offer all comfort and modernity what the medicine of today and tomorrow requires.
“Behind each of these technical requirements there is a very specific consideration: the patient receive better care, faster and safer, using the latest innovations »– reminded Minister of State Christophe Mirman during the ceremony of handing over the keys.
In this sense, CHPG has already carried out a significant policy of modernizing its offer in the healthcare sector in order to anticipate the reception of the building, in particular by developing strategic directions such as robotic surgery, nuclear medicine or even interventional cardiology.
The second stage, which will end in 2033.
2026, two years after the completion of construction work, despite more than four years of delay and the cost of the project having more than doubled to just under 1.4 billion euros… the building is ready. What conclusions can we draw over these 10 years? “The project was not always easy to manage, but overall we benefited from very high quality companies that we were able to work with to obtain result consistent with our expectations. There is architectural pride, but also human pride. The whole team, in a broad sense, made sure that this baby grew up.”” says Vincent Chaigneault.
A room in the new thermal power plant.
Cyril Dodergny / Nice-Matin
The keys are now in the hands of the medical staff. Work over the coming months for CHPG will involve gradually taking possession of the premises and repeating trial runs. The first patient will arrive in early 2027.At the same time, the migration of services will continue. Full commissioning of the building should take place by April 2027. The end of the second stage, marking the final cessation of construction, should take place during 2033.