In Toulouse, Kardham will design the new university building for the Midi-Pyrénées Observatory.

Led by the University of Toulouse and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), with support from the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), Météo France, and the French Research Institute for Development (IRD), this project marks a major step in the transformation of the Toulouse scientific campus. Conceived as a landmark building rooted in its surroundings and looking towards the future, the OMP Heart embodies the desire of these governing bodies to unite research stakeholders in a shared space, representative of both their scientific excellence and their environmental commitment. Completion is scheduled for early 2028.

A new unifying hub for research

The project follows in the footsteps of the major sites of the Midi-Pyrénées Observatory, from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the Mediterranean, becoming the operational heart of the site's scientific and academic life. It will offer researchers, students, and visitors a shared, open, and accessible space dedicated to knowledge and sharing.

Spread across five levels in a clear and compact design at the junction of the two historic buildings on the Belin campus, the building will house, on its lower floors, spaces for exchange, conferences, and documentation intended to host major scientific events organized by the OMP's supervisory bodies—the University of Toulouse, the CNRS, CNES, Météo France, and IRD—as well as thesis defenses, seminars, and public events. The upper floors will be dedicated to the OMP's research teams and services.

An open and airy design at the heart of nature

Located on the banks of the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and bordering a remarkable woodland, the project is situated in a location of great scenic and scientific value. The challenge was to design an architecture capable of asserting a contemporary identity without breaking with the spirit of the place, a blend of scientific history, nature, and innovation.

Kardham chose to preserve and enhance the existing vegetation, particularly the site's remarkable trees, which are integrated into the design of the forecourt. The building aligns with the axis of the future green corridor linking Belin and Roche, reinforcing the landscape and ecological continuity of the campus.

The architecture is expressed through the rigor of its lines and the choice of charred wood cladding, created using the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. This naturally durable and maintenance-free material reflects the desired structural simplicity and promotes the building's integration into its wooded surroundings. Its deep hue interacts with the light from the canal and the foliage of the site.

At the heart of the building, a wide, open gallery forms the true "interior street" of the OMP Center. More than just a passageway, it will become a vibrant hub, hosting conferences by scientific experts, symposia, events organized by the OMP's partner institutions – University of Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, Météo France, IRD – and opportunities for sharing open to both the scientific community and the general public. It is also here that future OMP graduates will come to defend their work and celebrate their achievements, thanks to a dedicated thesis defense room for theses and other significant academic events.

The building will also house a university library, designed as a resource center for students, researchers, and doctoral candidates. It will complement the network of university libraries in Toulouse and enhance access to knowledge on the Belin campus. Open to nature and the interior street, it will offer a calm and bright working environment, conducive to both concentration and discussion.

By linking public spaces, research facilities, a library, a thesis room, and meeting areas, the project creates a seamless flow between interior and exterior, between scientific heritage and the natural landscape. The OMP Heart thus becomes a true hub where generations meet, knowledge is shared, and the science of tomorrow is shaped daily.

Building on an occupied site: a technical and human challenge

The Belin campus remains an active scientific site. The construction of the new building must therefore proceed without disrupting the daily lives of the researchers and staff present. To achieve this, Kardham relied on off-site construction, an area in which the group has recognized expertise. The project is based on maximum prefabrication of the structural elements – low-carbon concrete, timber-framed floors and facades – produced in a workshop under controlled conditions, then assembled on the Belin site. This construction method minimizes disruption, reduces the construction time – estimated at fifteen months – and guarantees high-quality workmanship. It also illustrates Kardham's construction philosophy: putting technology at the service of architectural quality, user comfort, and environmental impact control. Finally, prefabrication relies on optimized logistics, the use of local suppliers, and particular attention to the safety and well-being of the workers.

A frugal and demonstrative approach

The building aligns with the RE2020 environmental regulations and aims to meet the 2025 targets. It features a low-carbon concrete post-and-beam structure combined with high-performance timber-frame facades, ensuring excellent insulation and controlled heat loss. Extensive green roofs contribute to thermal regulation and biodiversity, while rooftop photovoltaic panels generate a portion of the building's electricity. Rainwater is managed through natural infiltration via landscaped swales and permeable surfaces. The exterior spaces, freed from parking, are restored to vegetation: meadows, undergrowth plantings, and a tree-lined forecourt create a gentle transition between the building and the forest. These elements contribute to creating a vibrant landscape where nature reclaims its place and user comfort is combined with the site's resilience to climate change.

Supporting the changing ways of working

The workspaces at the OMP Center have been designed to support the evolution of scientific practices: modular floors that can accommodate teams of varying sizes, adaptable meeting rooms, and facilities that promote both individual concentration and collaborative work. The internal layout allows laboratories, departments, and research teams to adapt over time, keeping pace with scientific projects and technological innovations.

According to Pierre-Jean Artins, Associate Architect of the Kardham Group: “The OMP heart is a demonstration project for Kardham. It fully illustrates our ability to design demanding projects, where the complementary expertise of our architects and engineers is articulated. Together, they convey our conviction that architecture can be simultaneously frugal, efficient, and meaningful. Modest in scale but ambitious in its intentions, the project embodies this culture of off-site construction, low carbon emissions, and controlled overall costs that guides our approach. In a sensitive site on the banks of the Canal du Midi and adjacent to the Bois de Belin forest, we sought to design a fair, unifying, and sustainable place: a scientific landmark, but also a human one.”

Project characteristics

• Project owner: University of Toulouse, project management: CNRS
• Partners: Kardham Engineering, Toponomy (landscape architect), Sinteo (operations and maintenance engineering firm), Gamba Acoustics
• Mission: Complete, Operation, Maintenance and Overall Cost
• Delivery: 2028