A winter scene over Headquarters

The ITER Headquarters seen from the construction platform with, as a backdrop, the town of Manosque and the Alps.

02 February 2015

Extension completed

The 35-metre extension to the Headquarters building is completed in September 2014. Following its official handover to the ITER Organization (on 30 September) work can now begin to carry out the necessary arrangements for move-in (furnishings, IT connections).

17 September 2014

Continuity

As contruction progress has now reached level 5, the ITER Headquarters extension now stands in perfect continuity with the main building.

02 June 2014

Headquarters extension rises

Workers progress in April on the fourth storey of the ITER Headquarters extension. When completed this summer, an extra 350 desks will be available to staff or contractors.

10 April 2014

Going up!

From the roof of the main building, it's easy to follow the progress of the Headquarters extension in March.

19 March 2014

Structure begins to rise

Work is underway on the first floor of the extension to Headquarters. At a rate of approximately one storey every three weeks, the five-storey structure will be framed out by late May.

24 February 2014

Phase one of the Headquarters extension successfully completed

We can't see them yet, but soon the first-storey walls of the Headquarters extension will be visible from the platform. The concrete basemat for the 3,500 m² extension was poured on 30 January, marking the end of the foundation work phase. Work has begun on the walls; the complete exterior shell should be in place in June.

12 February 2014

Coffee anyone?

As the sun rises over the ITER site, the first employees arrive at their offices.

11 December 2013

Regular buses

Regular shuttle buses run between ITER Headquarters and two other ITER office buildings ... with increased frequency at lunch time.

02 October 2013

From the worksite

The top three storeys of ITER Headquarters have a view of construction works.

19 September 2013

The ITER Organization's new Headquarters building

The ITER Headquarters, photographed in May between two storm clouds. The northwest-facing cafeteria occupies the lower level of the building.

29 May 2013

The unfinished side

Contrary to the other side of the building, this end was left unfinished. In 2013, work will begin to extend the building by 35 metres for an additional 350 desk spaces.

07 February 2013

Welcome!

At the entrance of the new ITER Headquarters building, flags from the seven ITER Members and the yellow flag of the ITER Organization unfurl in the early February wind.

04 February 2013

United colours of ITER

On a brisk day in February, the ITER Member flags stand proudly against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains.

04 February 2013

Offices with a view

Across from the Assembly Building worksite, where reinforcement and concrete pouring continues, the top three stories of the new ITER Headquarters building rise over the platform. Photo: F4E

01 February 2013

A building and its surroundings

The ITER Headquarters building was conceived as a kind of 'visual pedestal' for the Tokamak Building. Seen from this angle, it is also a 'visual pedestal' for the distant mountains ...

18 December 2012

Looking toward the village of Vinon-sur-Verdon

The northern corner of the ITER site. The seat of the ITER Organization—the Headquarters building—sits below the elevated, 42-hectare platform where the scientific facilities will be installed. © Sylvain Couturier

03 December 2012

The Council Chamber

In the completed Headquarters building, the ITER Council meets for the first time in the fifth-floor Council Chamber.

28 November 2012

Last touches to the Council Chamber

Before the Eleventh ITER Council convenes from 28-29 November 2012, the Council Chamber undergoes a last round of waxing, window washing and equipment testing.

26 November 2012

Filled to capacity

On 23 November the ITER community gathers to celebrate cuisine from Europe on the occasion of the third ITER Member Day. For the first time, it's standing room only in the ITER cafeteria ...

23 November 2012

They are ready to welcome you!

An average of 90 people visit the ITER Headquarters every day. First stop: the Access Control building, pictured.

15 October 2012

Sunrise on the platform

From the fifth floor of the building, it's possible to take in the entire 42-hectare construction site.

08 October 2012

Hurry!

There's just about one month left to complete the Council Room, before the ITER Council invests the space to convene its eleventh meeting on 28-29 November 2012.

05 October 2012

Through the revolving doors

Sun pours into the lobby of the Headquarters building on Moving Day in October.

03 October 2012

"A view needs to be framed"

Looking out of one of the north-facing offices. According to architect Laurent Bonhomme, who paired with colleague Rudy Ricciotti from Marseille to design the office building, as with a painting or a photograph, "a view needs to be framed"—especially in an office setting where concentration is important.

03 October 2012

Headquarters: completed

The undulating northwestern facade of the ITER Headquarters building faces the road.

01 October 2012

Take a tunnel to work?

From the second floor of the completed Headquarters building, scientists will have access to the Control Room of the ITER Tokamak.

21 September 2012

One day, these patios will have trees

Glass predominates throughout the structure, on both the interior and exterior walls.

21 September 2012

Please, take a seat

Furniture, carpeting and audiovisual equipment complete the 500-seat amphitheatre in September.

21 September 2012

Framing out the last office spaces

As the dog days of summer come to an end, the ITER Headquarters building prepares for Moving Day, scheduled in October.

20 August 2012

An undulating veil

Above the ITER cafeteria, workers install the last vertical slats on the top four storeys of the building.

26 June 2012

Northwest corner

One hundred and eighty metres long, the Headquarters building is situated on the northwest corner of the platform. The building will be ready for delivery in two months.

26 June 2012

Site Access

Staff will badge in here, at the Site Access Control Building, before following the path to ITER Headquarters.

26 June 2012

Curves seen from above

From the roof, looking down toward the cafeteria terrace, it's easy to see how the architectural slats are mounted all along the building's northwest face.

21 June 2012

Natural light for the inner corridors

Light shafts are foreseen all along the 180 metres of the new ITER office building—some 3-storey (pictured), some 5-storey.

21 June 2012

slideshow_homepage

Following the installation of the last glass windows in November, the stage is set for the immense vertical slats that will adorn the northern facade of ITER Headquarters. Over 3,000 of these slats will create an external veil 14 m high and 180 m long.

21 June 2012

Cafeteria nearly finished

The Headquarters cafeteria is situated at the back of the building, with a terrace overlooking a wooded parcel.

21 June 2012

5 floors, 180 m long

The near-completed ITER Headquarters building is visible from the road between St-Paul-lez-Durance and Vinon-sur-Verson.

21 June 2012

The 500-seat amphitheatre

Only the furniture is missing in the 500-seat ITER amphitheatre. Staff will enter on the ground floor, through doors (upper right) situated just a step away from the lobby entrance.

21 June 2012

Meetings galore

The amphitheatre in the new building will provide ITER staff with the opportunity to assemble in one room—something that had been impossible in the temporary offices the team has occupied since 2006.

21 June 2012

On a clear day, we see the mountains

Looking over the near-completed Headquarters building toward the pre-Alps.

13 June 2012

Nestled up against the platform

The ITER Headquarters building sits below the platform; some of the upper offices will look out directly onto the ITER laboratory.

13 June 2012

Ventilation now installed

On the roof of the Headquarters building, rooftop ventilation and air conditioning units have been installed. Photo: AIF AM

30 May 2012

A space for discussion and decision-making

On the fifth floor of building, workers install an acoustic ceiling over the oval ITER Council boardroom. Photo: AIF AM

30 May 2012

May in Provence

Spring blossoms in Provence and work on access roads continues in the vicinity of the Headquarters building. Photo: Engage-AP

20 April 2012

Heigh ho, heigh ho ...

Thirty-three metres in length, this glass-walled walkway gives access to subterranean technical rooms and the ITER Tokamak control centre. Photo: Engage-AP

20 April 2012

Looking north

ITER Headquarters seen from the top of a worksite crane on a sunny day in April. Photo: Engage-AP

20 April 2012

Just a few months from completion

Late April: most of the work is happening on the inside now. Photo: Engage-AP

20 April 2012

On the inside

The superstructure of the Headquarters building was finished in September 2011. Since this date, workers have been equipping the interior of the building.

10 April 2012

A tunnel to the control tower

Looking down onto the walkway, then tunnel, that leads to the area on the ITER platform where the Control Room will be located in a few years.

24 March 2012

Eating out on a sunny day

The ITER canteen on the ground floor will have its own outside terrace.

24 March 2012

Installation of vertical sunshades

Vertical sunshades are positioned by crane and bolted into place along the northwest façade of the ITER Headquarters building. When the work is finished, the shades will create 14-metre-tall vertical lines. Photo: AIF.AM

24 March 2012

What will it be like cohabitating with the architectural slats?

The vertical slats seen from the inside ...

23 March 2012

Filtering the Provençal sun, without blocking the view

The vertical slats seen from the outside ...

23 March 2012

Rain or shine

Windows and a glass ceiling have been installed on the footbridge that links the ITER offices to the Control Room on the platform.

14 March 2012

Fifth-floor view

Looking north from an office on the top floor.

14 March 2012

Inside and out

On the inside, workers are installing some 12,000 square metres of dividing walls to shape out the offices. On the outside, work continues on the "exterior veil."

14 March 2012

Late in the day

The late-day sun illuminates the western facade of the ITER Headquarters.

14 March 2012

Northwest facade

Looking up from the basement level of the Headquarters building toward the ITER canteen and four storeys of office space. Photo: AIF.AM

08 March 2012

Work is completed on annex building

Located next to the ITER Headquarters, this building will house the ITER Medical Centre and research facility access checkpoint. Photo: AIF.AM

08 March 2012

Piece by piece

On the northern corner of the Headquarters building, these "balconies" have been installed to receive 14-metre-tall vertical slats. Photo: AIF

06 March 2012

Spectacular progress

The top three levels of ITER Headquarters have front-row seats to the work on the platform. Beginning next fall, the building will be occupied.

29 February 2012

Footbridge to the experiments

This 33-metre metal footbridge will link ITER Headquarters to the scientific facilities on the platform, by way of an underground tunnel. Photo: AIF.AM

03 February 2012

By "rack" of six

One 3.2-metre "rack" of 6 sunshades is readied for installation. Four racks like these complete one vertical assembly. Photo: AIF.AM

03 February 2012

Installation of vertical sunshades

Vertical sunshades are positioned by crane and bolted into place along the northwest façade of the ITER Headquarters building. When the work is finished, the shades will create 14-metre-tall vertical lines. Photo: AIF.AM

03 February 2012

Restaurant inside, deck outside

The terrace adjoining the ITER canteen is equipped with a wooden deck. Photo: AIF.AM

03 February 2012

The permanent ITER Headquarters building

Across a quiet platform, work continues on the inside of the future ITER Headquarters.

01 February 2012

Seen from across the platform

On the top left of the building, work begins to install the exterior venetian blinds that will protect the offices from Provence's 300 days of strong sunlight per year.

12 January 2012

Rooms with a view

The top floors of the Headquarters building will have an unparalleled view of the 39 buildings and facilities that make up the ITER fusion laboratory.

12 January 2012

Enter from this side

The future entrance to the ITER Headquarters on the northeast corner of the building.

12 January 2012

The eleventh ITER Council will be held here in November 2012

The architect's vision of the future Council Room located on the top floor of ITER Headquarters. ©Ricciotti

12 January 2012

Under the round ceiling of the Council Room

On the top floor of the building, a circular Council Room for 80 is under construction.

12 January 2012

The ITER canteen

Workers install the metal structure that will support a terrace accessible from the canteen.

12 January 2012

In a few months

The architect's drawing of the ITER Headquarters entrance hall. ©Ricciotti

22 December 2011

A cafeteria catering to 1,000

Occupying the first floor of the building, the cafeteria spans its entire width from east to west. The doors visible in this photograph exit to an outside terrace and stairs down to a grassy area.

22 December 2011

Ground floor entry hall

The bright and spacious entry hall of the ITER Headquarters building faces the platform. Elevators heading from this area to the upper floors have already been installed.

22 December 2011

From the top floor looking down

Far below, the Site Access Control Building (not yet equipped with its "green" roof).

22 December 2011

Hot water, anyone?

Seventy-five metres of solar panels installed on the roof will furnish the cafeteria's needs in hot water.

22 December 2011

Light for the interior of the building

The installation of bay windows in the six interior patios was completed in December.

22 December 2011

Door frames and interior fittings

Door frames are installed for the platform-facing offices. Next step: interior walls. ©VPaul

06 December 2011

An eagle-eye view

From the upper floors of the ITER Headquarters, the view over the platform is spectacular.

01 December 2011

The seat of the ITER project

ITER Headquarters, seen through the atypical openings of the Site Access Control Building.

29 November 2011

You'll make your first stop at ITER here

The 550m² Site Access Control Building will be equipped with a "green" roof to improve climate control.

29 November 2011

Interior fittings underway

Looking out from one of the large, open-plan offices on the west side of the building.

29 November 2011

Through the tunnel

A 33-metre-long metal footbridge will connect Headquarters to this tunnel in the platform, which will lead to the ITER Control Room.

29 November 2011

Work completed on the windows

The last windows are installed along the curved south-eastern face of the building in December 2011.

29 November 2011

As the crow flies

The Provençal village of Corbières (approximately 10 kilometres distant) seen from over the top of the Headquarters building.

15 November 2011

Work on the roof

Blocs of insulation are installed on the roof of the ITER Headquarters building, some 20 metres above ground level. Photo: AIF

14 November 2011

Exterior blinds

Along the eastern face of the building, the offices will be protected from the sun by exterior venetian blinds. Photo: AIF

05 November 2011

Snow visible from the platform

Fresh October snow in the pre-Alps is visible from the ITER platform on a clear day. Approximately 250 km beyond the ITER Headquarters are the Mont Pelvoux (far left, 3,946 m) and the Barre des Écrins (left, 4,102 m).

20 October 2011

Sliding 500 kilos 'effortlessly' into place

The 500-kilo glass window blocks are slid into position one after another following a patented installation system developed for the ITER Headquarters project. Up to 50 frames can be slid into place per day. Photo: AIF

12 October 2011

Spacious

The architect's drawing helps us to imagine the Headquarters amphitheatre in one year's time. ©Ricciotti

11 October 2011

Meetings galore

The amphitheatre, with its large bay window, will hold up to 500 people. Photo: AIF

11 October 2011

Looking through the glass

Natural light predominates on the upper floors of the ITER Headquarters.

19 September 2011

Frame completed

Work on the top floor of the ITER Headquarters nears completion in September 2011. The building will have a ground level plus five floors—a total of six levels in all.

19 September 2011

Facing the platform

Seen from the sky, the offices on the southeast side of the ITER Headquarters building look toward the platform. Photo: Altivue/ITER Organization

14 September 2011

Designed by local architects

The ITER Headquarters was designed by local architects Rudy Ricciotti and Laurent Bonhomme, in association with SNC-Lavalin and Cap-Ingelec. Construction began one year ago in October 2010. Photo: Altivue/ITER Organization

14 September 2011

Seen from the north

The future ITER Headquarters, the Site Access Control Building (in the foreground) and the Medical Centre and research facility access building (behind the Headquarters) are seen from the north. Photo: Altivue/ITER Organization

14 September 2011

Headquarters now visible from the platform

ITER Headquarters emerges from behind the Tokamak Pit, as work begins on the last storey of the building. Photo: F4E

11 August 2011

The ITER Medical Centre

Close to the ITER Headquarters, this building will house the ITER Medical Centre and research facility access checkpoint. Photo: AIF July 2011

08 August 2011

The ITER Site Access Control Building

The interesting shapes of the ITER Site Access Control Building seen from the south side. The architectural motifs resemble those of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur International School situated in Manosque, conceived by the same architect. Photo: AIF

08 August 2011

Light and shapes and shadow

The ITER Site Access Control Building from within. Photo: AIF

08 August 2011

One floor to go

Standing on the fourth storey rooftop where work is about to begin on the last level of the ITER Headquarters. Photo: AIF

08 August 2011

Atriums for the future Headquarters building

Two- to three-storey interior patios, planted with vegetation, will generate ventilation and let natural light into the ITER Headquarters. Photo: AIF

08 August 2011

Large bay windows

The wide corridors and large bay windows of the second storey of ITER Headquarters, looking toward the parking lot. Photo: AIF

08 August 2011

A large boat?

The ITER Headquarters, seen from the northeast, could almost look like a large boat. Photo: AIF

08 August 2011

Progress!

Four storeys are now framed out and work begins on the fifth and last. Photo: AIF

08 August 2011

Shaping the concrete floor

Portable framework tables are used to accelerate the pouring of concrete floor on the third level of the ITER Headquarters. Twenty-four of these wooden framework tables are placed side by side, allowing nearly 200 square metres of floor space to be poured every day. Photo: AIF

27 June 2011

On its way

The shell of the ITER Headquarters—walls, floor, roof—is forecast to be completed in summer 2011. Photo: AIF

24 May 2011

Occupying the smallest "footprint" in the landscape

The long, tall ITER Headquarters building was conceived by the architects to occupy a limited amount of ground space, leaving most of the wooded parcel ... wooded. Photo: AIF

24 May 2011

Visible progress

Work on the ITER Headquarters progresses in May 2011. Photo: AIF

24 May 2011

Future amphitheatre

The 500-person amphitheatre will be partly integrated under the building. Photo: AIF

24 May 2011

Peeping in

Peeping into the future Site Access Control Building in April 2011. Photo: AIF

17 May 2011

Asymmetric openings

The first walls and asymmetric openings of the Site Access Control Building.

17 May 2011

Free-form concrete

Architectonic concrete is used to give structural strength to the Site Access Control Building, whose creative geometric openings are airy and aesthetic. Photo: AIF

16 May 2011

The Site Access Control Building

Located near the ITER Headquarters the Site Access Control Building, equipped with a 50-person conference room, will be accessible by the public. Photo: AIF

15 May 2011

Ultra high performance fibrous concrete

The Headquarters worksite in May 2011. For thin constructions, ultra high performance fibrous concrete is used. Incorporating steel fibres, this self-compacting concrete has exceptional durability and extremely high compression resistance: between 130 and 250 MPa (Mega Pascal) in normal conditions. The high resistance is accompanied by a very high density and almost zero permeability of water, oxygen or chloride ion diffusion. Photo: AIF

12 May 2011

Tower cranes

A 60-metre crane and a 42-metre crane hard at work on the walls of the future ITER Headquarters in May 2011. Photo: AIF

11 May 2011

26 different "formulas"

Twenty-six different types of concrete will be used for the construction of the ITER Headquarters—26 different "formulas" depending final use (posts, beams, floors, external walls ...) and taking into account the different resistance levels, colours, plasticity, setting speeds, and aggregate size. Photo: AIF

11 May 2011

The southeast facade faces the platform

To help regulate the temperature inside the building, the southeast facade will be equipped with Venetian blinds to adjust the amount of incoming light room by room. Photo: AIF

05 May 2011

ITER's window to the project

Facing the main entrance to the ITER site, the ITER Headquarters building will be the window to the ITER project for the world. Photo: Altivue/AIF

01 April 2011

The walls of ITER Headquarters emerge

The shell of the ITER Headquarters will require 700 tons of steel and approximately 10 000 m3 of concrete. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

Steel reinforcement

Part of the 700 tons of steel required to reinforce the concrete poured for the ITER Headquarters. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

Six acres of wooded land

The Headquarters building is situated below the ITER platform on six acres of wooded land to the northeast. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

Workforce increasing

40 people were involved in the construction of the first stage of the ITER Headquarters (shell). This number will progressively increase to 220 between April and September 2011. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

The weather helps!

Clement weather allows work on the ITER Headquarters to progress rapidly. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

Shaped like the wings of a bird

The wing-shaped ITER Headquarters emerges against the backdrop of southern France. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

Taking shape

Workers position pre-formed walls on the second floor of the ITER Headquarters. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

Moving up, floor by floor

Work advances in March 2011 on the future ITER Headquarters. Photo: AIF

10 March 2011

The future ITER Headquarters

In addition to the 20,500 square-metre ITER Headquarters, a small building is planned to welcome the public and a second to manage site access and house medical services. Photo: AIF

13 December 2010

180 metres in length

The 180 metre-long, five-storey ITER Headquarters will provide office space for about 500 employees, a cafeteria, an amphitheatre with 500 seats, and a boardroom. Photo: AIF

09 December 2010

Heavy works

The construction of the ITER Headquarters is financed by the European Domestic Agency, F4E, and France as Host country. Photo: AIF

05 December 2010

Footbridge to the Control Room

A footbridge will link the first floor of the Headquarters to the ITER Control Room which will be located one level below the project construction platform. The thirty-metre-long footbridge will become a tunnel when it reaches the platform, providing direct pedestrian access to the research facilities. Photo: Altivue/AIF

01 December 2010

Work on the first floor begins

Work begins on the first floor of the ITER Headquarters building in October 2010 and progresses quickly at the rate of twelve linear metres per day. Photo: AIF

15 October 2010

Foundation work for the ITER Headquarters

Work on the foundations of the ITER Headquarters building is launched in October 2010. The tall building will be solidly anchored five metres deep in the ground. Photo: AIF

02 October 2010

ITER Headquarters will be situated here, close to—but down from—the ITER platform

Just past the trees, nestled up against the bend in the ITER platform, a patch of land has been cleared for the construction of the permanent ITER Headquarters. Photo: Altivue/AIF

15 September 2010

Architect's view #5

An artist's view of the future ITER Headquarters. Sanitary water for the building will be heated by approximately 80 square metres of solar panels. Photo: Ricciotti

Architect's view #4

Work begins in September 2010 on the future ITER Headquarters, which will be situated on a six-hectare wooded parcel to the west of the ITER platform. Photo: Ricciotti

Architect's view #3

"Undulating vertical slats." This is the way the architect describes the most prominent visual feature of the Headquarters building. These sunshades will provide protection from the sun on the northwest facade of the building and reduce the need for cooling within. Made of highly resistant fibre concrete, the 3,104 sunshades will also provide structural strength. Photo: Ricciotti

Architect's View #2

The underground auditorium of the ITER Headquarters will have a "green roof"—a natural way to regulate the temperature in the building. Photo: Ricciotti

Architect's view #1

Two- to three-storey interior patios—spaced evenly along the central walkways of the building and planted with vegetation—will generate ventilation, let in natural light, and provide a convivial setting for common areas. Photo: Ricciotti