It is around the former site of the General Stores which will relocate, by 2026, two higher education establishments from Reims: the Neoma business school and ÉSAD, dedicated to art and design.
It is there that the future of Reims lies, in part. A former very active industrial zone after the Second World War, the Colbert port area has since been deserted, but is preparing to find a second life, as evidenced by the cranes deployed for several months.
Around the building of the former Magasins Généraux, preserved to become the totem of the future district, the wastelands have been razed to make way for a whole series of projects centered on education and innovation. This ambitious program is supported by the ongoing construction of two flagship educational establishments in the city: on the one hand the Neoma business school, which is building its new campus there for a budget of €110 million, on the other the new School of Art and Design (Ésad) in Reims for €35 million.
Neoma will be able to accommodate 7,000 students
Designed by the Danish architectural firm Henning-Larsen, Neoma will develop 35,000 m² of useful space within several buildings, all connected by a hall dedicated to student life. It will notably have 85 classrooms, two lecture halls with 120 seats, an events space, with an auditorium with a capacity of 750 seats and accessible from outside the establishment. On this campus, Neoma will be able to accommodate up to 7,000 students, compared to 4,700 in its current premises, spread over two sites in the Croix-Rouge district. Very ambitious, this project represents an investment of around €110 million, mainly financed by the school itself, with the support of Grand Reims and the Grand Est region which contribute €10 million each.
ESAD, a symbol of the future district
Founded in 1748, Esad currently occupies aging premises on rue Libergier, but also a site near the planetarium. Designed by Parisian architect Jean-Pierre Lott, the future building made of concrete and curves must indeed be one of the totems of the Port Colbert district. Designed on five levels and covering 9,000 m², it must accommodate 235 students, but the number could be increased to nearly 300 students. Marked by a large glass roof, the main entrance looks spectacular. The premises, which will include an auditorium and an amphitheater on the roof, should be regularly open to residents. The cost of the work is estimated at around €35 million, financed by Grand Reims with the support of Grand Est and the State.
While the two establishments hoped to welcome their students at the start of the 2025 school year, the mayor of Reims Arnaud Robinet recently corrected that they would have to wait one more year.
