The architectural project

Scheduled to open in 2027, the Institut Robert-Debré du Cerveau de l’Enfant will be housed in a dedicated 12,000 m2 building on the site of the Robert-Debré AP-HP hospital, between the Paris ring road and the Lilas water reservoir.

Institut Robert-Debré du Cerveau de l’Enfant - Architectural competition for the future building

The building

The 5-storey building will house consultations and day hospitals for disciplines linked to the identification and management of neurodevelopmental disorders (child psychiatry, neurology, neonatology, ophthalmology, ENT, genetics, functional explorations), clinical and fundamental research platforms, start-up areas and associations.

Several connections with the Robert-Debré AP-HP hospital will be created. Funding of €40M has been allocated by the French government as part of the Assises de la santé mentale et de la psychiatrie (mental health and psychiatry conference) in September 2021.

Following an architectural competition, the design of the building was entrusted to AIA Designers Architectes.

Institut Robert-Debré du Cerveau de l’Enfant

View of the entrance to the future Institute building from Boulevard Sérurier
AIA Life Designers, architects

Architectural project milestones

January 2022: Start-up of the real estate project with the award of the contract to AP-HP - AP-HP. North - Université Paris Cité

March to July 2022: Preparation of detailed technical program with care and research teams

October to May 2022: Launch of the architectural competition

June 2023: 11 groups made up of around 100 hospital and research professionals, user representatives and founders analyze the 4 architectural projects selected from 35 candidates.

September 2023: AIA Life Designers, winner of the architectural competition

January to June 2024: Preliminary Summary Design (APS) and Final Preliminary Design (APD) worked with the teams.

October 2024: Submission of building permit

November to December 2024: Project phase and micro-establishment of premises with teams

1st quarter 2025: Consultation with construction companies

May 2025: Building permit obtained

August 2025: Start of site preparation for the construction of the Institute

November 2025: Notification of works contracts to successful bidders

January 2026: Start of construction work on the Institute

First half of 2026: Laying of the building's foundation stone

First semester of 2028: Opening of the Institute

Key figures

400 professionals dedicated to children's health and education in the new building

65,000 consultations & examinations per year
10,000 day hospitalizations per year
14 day hospitalization rooms
70 multidisciplinary consultation cubicles
1 MRI & 1 magnetoencephalograph
A wide range of equipment dedicated to the brain

A 12,000 m2 building
600 m2 space for start-ups
1 200-seat auditorium
90 m2 dedicated to associations and families

Investment :
60M€ of work, including 40M€ funded by the French government

1 BabyKid Lab, a laboratory for exploring the brain, learning, ...

9 Robert-Debré hospital clinical departments integrated into the new building (consultations and day hospitals)

Child and adolescent psychiatry
Pediatric neurology
Neonatology
Clinical genetics
Imaging
Functional tests
Pediatric otorhinolaryngology
Pediatric ophthalmology
Clinical Investigation Center (CIC)

Non-contractual image
AIA Life Designers, architects