Grand Paris Express: KONE designs the elevators for the "most beautiful station in the world," but also the deepest in the Île-de-France region

One year after its inauguration, the Villejuif – Gustave Roussy station in Val-de-Marne was awarded the Versailles Architecture Prize as the "most beautiful station in the world". In this exceptional building of the Grand Paris Express, featuring a monumental 50-meter-deep skylight, the KONE teams deployed all their expertise by installing 16 elevators.

Equipment specifically designed to meet the unique constraints of these stations, such as the expected high passenger volumes and considerable depth, has been installed. This project, now recognized for its prestige, reinforces KONE's position as a leading player in major urban mobility projects.

Villejuif - Gustave Roussy station: suitable facilities for a deep-water station

The Gustave Roussy - Villejuif station (Val-de-Marne), on the Grand Paris Express, is designed to accommodate 100.000 passengers daily at full capacity. Its inauguration last January marked the completion of the extension of metro line 14, but the station will also welcome future passengers of line 15 South in 2026.

As a specialist in managing people flow in cities, KONE continuously innovates to improve fluidity, accessibility for all, and the quality of travel. The elevators installed in the new station are specifically designed to handle very high passenger volumes and facilitate and optimize the experience for its 100.000 daily users. These elevators are distinguished by their enhanced durability, thanks to components designed for continuous 24/7 operation.

Easily recognizable thanks to its glass roof, the new station reaches unprecedented depths: 50 meters at the bottom of the station, making it currently the deepest in the Paris metro. A total of nine levels connect the metro platforms to the exit. This feat was made possible in part by the 16 elevators installed by KONE.

Recognized expertise for large-scale projects

For an exceptional project, exceptional teams were needed. KONE relied on the recognized expertise of its technical teams for the installation of the 16 elevators at the Villejuif - Gustave Roussy station. A very precise set of specifications was implemented to ensure the quality of the installation and thus guarantee optimal elevator operation. The elevator cabins were custom-made to meet the standards of the Grand Paris Express and are the result of more than two and a half years of work and planning. Every action, adjustment, or setting is the result of meticulous work carried out by experienced installers who receive ongoing training to ensure continuous skills development.

This project confirms KONE's role as a specialist in large-scale infrastructure and adaptable equipment.

According to Jérôme Audais, Managing Director of KONE France, Belgium, and Luxembourg: “The distinction of Villejuif – Gustave Roussy station as the ‘most beautiful station in the world’ is a source of immense pride for our teams. This exceptional project mobilized all our expertise, and I would like to thank the Grand Paris Express for the trust placed in KONE. Installing 16 elevators capable of transporting tens of thousands of passengers every day, 50 meters underground, is the result of a collective commitment and recognized expertise. We are honored to contribute, alongside our partners, to shaping the major urban mobility infrastructures of tomorrow.”