La Tour des Argonautes, located in the heart of the Châtillons district in Reims, is one of the city’s most recognisable architectural landmarks. Inaugurated in 1972, this 17-storey residential tower rises to 50 meters and is distinguished by its monumental rooftop sculpture, inspired by the ship of Jason and the Argonauts.

As part of the New National Urban Renewal Programme, the Châtillons district is undergoing a major transformation aimed at improving the living environment, strengthening urban diversity and bringing new momentum to the area. The renovation of La Tour des Argonautes is a key part of this transformation.

The project had a dual objective: to preserve the strong identity of a building that has become a visual landmark in Reims, while giving it a more contemporary architectural expression and improved energy performance. The renovation aimed in particular to achieve BBC Effinergie Rénovation certification and to improve the building’s energy rating from D to B.

A new vertical expression

The façades of La Tour des Argonautes were completely redesigned by Haïku Architecture to strengthen the verticality of the building and modernise its architectural expression.

The façade layout plays a central role in this transformation. The floors are visually grouped by two or three levels, while vertical recessed joints, highlighted slab edges and ribbed steel inserts create rhythm and depth. The selected colours echo the glass-paste tiles typical of the district’s historic buildings, while redrawing the three-branch star shape of the tower.

This renewed façade allows the tower to retain its role as an urban landmark, while asserting a more contemporary, more legible identity that fits within its renovated surroundings.

A renovation carried out on an occupied site

The façade works were carried out by Soprema Entreprises, Reims agency, in a demanding technical context. The height of the building and the fact that the works were carried out on an occupied site required precise organisation, with the interventions completed façade section by façade section using mast climbing work platforms.

After the existing cladding was removed, the new envelope was installed with a metal framework, 160 mm thick external rock wool insulation, and cladding elements in aluminium composite and ribbed steel.

Significant preparation work was also carried out upstream to ensure a precise final result. The façade was digitally redrawn based on measurements taken on site, making it possible to define the exact position of the framework and the dimensions of each cladding element. The components could therefore be delivered pre-cut and pre-drilled, making installation on site faster and more reliable.

For this project, Joris Ide supplied the ribbed steel sheets installed on the façade. The product used belongs to the JI Sonora 25 Vario 11 range, an architectural ribbed façade profile with visible fixings.

This profile is designed to create expressive, rhythmic and textured façades. It can be used for both new-build and renovation projects, with vertical or horizontal installation depending on the desired architectural effect.

On La Tour des Argonautes, the Joris Ide ribbed steel sheets contribute fully to the new vertical reading of the building. They bring texture, relief and movement to the façade, in combination with the aluminium composite cladding.

More than 2,220 m² of ribbed steel sheets

In total, more than 4,700 m² of façade were renovated as part of this project, including around 2,500 m² of aluminium composite cladding and 2,220 m² of ribbed steel sheets.

The Joris Ide solution contributes both to the building’s visual identity and to the quality of the renewed envelope. By combining aesthetics, durability and installation precision, the steel profiles help meet the challenges of a complex high-rise renovation project.