CMIP Medical Center by jaq – Extension, Innovation, and Human-Centered Design in Paris

The CMIP Medical Center, designed by jaq architects, is a striking architectural project located in the heart of Paris’s 15th arrondissement, a dense urban district known for its mix of historic fabric and contemporary development. The intervention combines renovation and extension of an existing vaccination center with the creation of CERIAH, a pioneering research and innovation hub dedicated to human audiology.

Balancing heritage, modern research requirements, sustainability, and user comfort, the medical center redefines how healthcare and research facilities can be experienced in a metropolitan setting.

Urban Challenges and Project Constraints

The project site is surrounded by dense urban blocks, imposing numerous constraints such as limited space, phasing requirements, and ongoing building operations. Throughout construction, the existing building’s activity had to be maintained, requiring careful flow management, noise control, and coordination with medical staff and researchers.

jaq approached these challenges with a phased construction strategy, ensuring seamless transition for research teams and doctors, while minimizing disruption to the neighborhood.

Adaptive and Flexible Design

Given the rapidly evolving nature of medical research, adaptability and reversibility were at the core of the design. All technical elements—including angled pipes, cable channels, and ventilation ducts—were intentionally left exposed. This not only facilitates maintenance and future upgrades but also integrates technical details into the aesthetic language of the building.

Materials were carefully chosen to balance durability and elegance:

• Grooved wood frames for exterior façades
• Varnished ash laminate kickboards to withstand daily use
• Custom-made wooden banquettes enhancing user comfort

This refined palette combines practical performance with a warm, human-scale atmosphere, unusual for institutional healthcare spaces.

Light, Transparency, and Human Experience

One of the most remarkable features of the CMIP Medical Center is its emphasis on natural light and transparency—qualities often lacking in healthcare and laboratory environments.

• Offices are fitted with large windows, some offering double and triple orientations.
• Corridors are naturally lit and enhanced with glazed doors, avoiding dark, enclosed passageways.
• Communal areas open onto a central patio, soon to be landscaped, creating a calming green core within the facility.

This integration of daylight and visual openness creates an uplifting, healthier environment for researchers, medical staff, and patients alike.

Dialogue Between Old and New

The extension engages in a dialogue with the adjacent historical monument, a stone building of cultural significance. To respect this context, the architects employed a self-supporting Bourgogne stone façade system, echoing traditional craftsmanship while introducing a contemporary language of setbacks, recesses, and layered forms.

Internally, the generous ceiling heights—reaching over 4 meters—set new standards for medical office design, fostering an environment of openness and collaboration.

Sustainable Construction Approach

To minimize disruption during construction and meet sustainability goals, a metal structure with wooden joist floorswas chosen. This dry construction method allowed for faster execution, less noise, and reduced environmental impact.

The result is a facility that prioritizes adaptability, speed of assembly, and reduced carbon footprint, aligning with broader urban sustainability objectives in Paris.

All the photographs are works of Aldo Amoretti