Background:

The Project consists of the development, financing, design, construction, long-term management and ownership of a new Higher Education campus in Marseille. Meridiam’s partner, La Plateforme, a school for digital and new technologies, will lease the campus and be responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance.

Marseille’s northern districts have a history of long-term unemployment and a high prevalence of socially vulnerable people with limited to no academic qualifications. Developing alternative training programmes to support access to employment opportunities and life-long skills is a public policy priority.

To support its growth from c. 600 students in 2022 to 3,000 by 2028, La Plateforme will develop a new Digital and Technology campus that offers training and education specifically targeted at unqualified young adults. The campus will be located in the Northern Quartier des Crottes.

The land for the Project was secured through Euroméditerranée Phase 2 (Euromed 2), an urban redevelopment initiative by the French State and the local authorities (the City of Marseille, the Aix-Marseille Metropolis and the Region). The Project will regenerate a total of 18,000m², which will include a new campus and local services (e.g. cinema and subsidised grocery store).

Stage:

In construction

ESG Matters

The Project is fully aligned with Meridiam’s Urban Resilience Fund (TURF)’s resilience objectives:

·        La Plateforme provides a free educational offering for those who have found the conventional teaching system difficult and enables individuals to develop the skills and proficiencies needed to succeed in future employment opportunities

·        The Project contributes to the urban renewal of Marseille by redeveloping an old, industrial, and deprived area with new services for the benefit of the local community

·        The Project has high environmental impact targets, both in terms of construction quality, limitation of its carbon footprint and energy consumption and connecting to the existing low carbon district heating network