The official handover of the new Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG) building took place Monday 13th July, as Prince Albert II transferred the keys to the hospital director, Benoîte Rousseau de Sevelinges, in the presence of Minister of State Christophe Mirmand and senior government officials. The event signals the transition from the construction phase to the period of operational preparation, during which staff will ready the facility to receive patients.
Addressing the assembly, Prince Albert II framed the new facility as a central element of the Principality’s health strategy.
“These keys do not close a construction site: they open a future. This hospital is more than public equipment; it is a vital pillar of our country that expresses our constant desire to make health a lasting priority,” said Prince Albert II.
Minister of State Christophe Mirmand added that the extensive effort required to reach this stage, acknowledged the contributions of over 150 companies and the hundreds of workers involved. Addressing the medical staff, saying: “We have given you the tool: you will give it its soul.”
Engineering in a constrained environment
The project involved navigating significant logistical and technical hurdles, including building over a void and shifting the alignment of Avenue Pasteur, all while maintaining the operations of the existing hospital. Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urbanism, explained the complexity of the site, saying that they were equipped with a logistics lot to manage all supplies in a constrained area: “It wasn’t a calm river, but through the strength of the collective teams, we always managed to find the right solutions.”
Facility upgrades and sustainability
The new building has achieved ‘High Quality Environmental’ (HQE) Excellent certification. Technical features include a connection to the Principality’s thalassothermic loop, energy-efficient elevators, and over 2,000 square metres of green space. Operational improvements include an increase of approximately 60 beds dedicated to psychiatry, the integration of modular hybrid operating rooms and surgical robotics, and a clinical design focused on secured patient pathways and the expansion of ambulatory care.
Operational timeline
The site will now undergo a series of technical trials, including full-scale simulations and ‘blank runs’ to verify system reliability. Support services, such as the pharmacy and laboratory, are scheduled to begin operations late in 2026. The phased transfer of hospital departments will commence in the first quarter of 2027, with the first patients expected to be received in January. The project will reach its final conclusion with the completion of Phase 2 in 2033. This development reinforces the medical partnership between the Principality and France, ensuring a continuum of care for both residents and the surrounding region.
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Main photo: From left to right: Christophe Mirmand (Minister of State), Prince Albert II, Benoîte Rousseau de Sevelinges (Director of the CHPG), Céline Caron-Dagioni (the Government Counsellor-Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urbanism),and Christophe Robino (Government Counsellor-Minister of Social Affairs and Health). Credit: Manuel Vitali – Direction de la Communication