A group of students who may one day enrol at the future school site being built within the Cœur de Carnolès development in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin were recently invited to join Mayor Patrick Cesari and other regional officials in laying the first foundation stones at the site. The name of the school is still to be decided, and Cesari has asked young members of the local population to put forward their ideas in a bid to foster a sense of ownership and involvement among the youth.
On 13th January, the town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin officially began working on a new school project within the larger Cœur de Carnolès site. The establishment will replace the ageing La Plage school group and is to cover a vast 3,000sqm once complete. The facility, which is set to open in time for the start of the 2026/27 academic year, will be home to 14 classrooms designed to accommodate up to 420 students.
The pledging of strong environmental values and practices has been key to getting this project off the ground, and as such, the project will incorporate eco-friendly materials and features into its design, including 225sqm of solar panels.
Additionally, the new school’s design prioritises green spaces and community engagement. The grounds will feature a playful courtyard space, a mini sports stadium to encourage physical activity, and a library with flexible spaces for artistic and educational activities. Classrooms will be bright, spacious, and constructed with health-conscious, ecological materials.
The symbolic laying of the first stone ceremony was attended by Roquebrune’s mayor, Patrick Cesari, along with Alpes-Maritimes Senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, local Academic Inspector Malamine Sissoko, and children and teaching staff from La Plage.
Following speeches by the mayor and some of the schoolchildren, the group sealed two time capsules containing drawings and messages, before slotting them safely within the blocks. The time capsules will remain in place for the next 100 years.
The Ville de Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is leading the project, with architectural design by the Vollenweider and Atelier Fernandez group, supported by the Artélia design office.
The €15.5 million project is being funded without the need for loans, thanks to financial contributions from the French government, the Department of the Alpes-Maritimes, Société Publique Locale d’Aménagement (SPLA), Communauté d’Agglomération de la Riviera Française (CARF), and the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF). The ZAC Carnolès itself is contributing €2.5 million to the initiative.
This state-of-the-art school symbolises not only educational advancement, but also a commitment to sustainability and community values, setting a benchmark for future projects in the region.
For more information about the Cœur de Carnolès development, click here.
Read related:
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin’s Cœur de Carnolès project to move forward despite environmental concerns
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Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco