MARSEILLE, FRANCE—Participants in the redevlopment of the the Hotel-Dieu, recently celebrated the project's completion and the re-opening of the hotel as the InterContintental Marseille – Hotel Dieu.

The official ceremony took place April 25 after a three year renovation effort. Participants included investor AXA Real Estate's CEO Pierre Vaquier, developer ALTAREA COGEDIM, CEO Christian de Gournay, other members of the redevlopment consortium and public officials.

In 2006, the consortium won the competitive bid organized by the City of Marseille. The architectural design was entrusted to the Anthony Béchu Architecture Agency, and to Tangram Architects, while the interior design was assigned to a group comprising the Nuel Agency, Tangram Architects and Volume ABC.

Site preparation prior to construction included archeological explorations that lead the the discovery of a fragment of a Roman-era mosicac. That artifact is now on display in the hotel lobby.

The five-star Marseille Hotel-Dieu is only the second hotel reconstruction project to receive the new certification NF Service Industry Buildings - HQE Procedure, Hospitality Industry. The project has also delivered 85 rental units and three retail outlets, which are linked to the historic Le Panier District, as well as 57 parking spaces for the hotel and 165 parking spaces for the residential buildings.