In October 2008, Foster + Partners’ new performance venue in Saint-Etienne opened.

The result of an international design competition in 2004, the new building is characterized by its aerodynamic roof and flexible performance space, and marks a major departure from Zénith’s tradition of using temporary venues.

As the first purpose built state-of-the art music venue in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, the project will greatly raise Saint-Etienne’s profile as a regional venue for arts events and help to drive the regeneration of this former industrial city.

The adaptable performance space can be configured to accommodate 1,100 to 7,200 people and host a variety of productions, from music to sports events including tennis and skating.

Access to the concert hall is across a broad ramped podium that incorporates the artists’ and backstage facilities and bridges a busy road. This creates a large plaza, shaded in part by the deep overhang of the roof canopy which also shades a generous glazed foyer.

The building’s form is energy efficient and offers great flexibility. Located in a valley with prevailing north and south winds, the cantilevered roof structure channels air through the building – the system is fully reversible to take advantage of winds from both directions to assist natural ventilation and cooling. At night, the cold air currents through the auditorium are harnessed, using the thermal properties of the exposed concrete finishes in the auditorium.

Norman Foster said:

‘The Zénith is a state-of-the-art music and cultural facility for St. Etienne that places the formerly industrial city on the cultural map, forming the heart of an exciting project to revitalize the area to the north-east of the city center.’

• The Zénith program was conceived as a series of public performing arts venues throughout France in 1981. Initiated by the French Ministry of Culture, the scheme was launched by politician Jack Lang and has led to the construction of more than fifteen new venues.

• The generous backstage facilities house changing and production spaces, staff refectories and incorporate an impressive VIP suite. The stage fittings are standardized across each of the Zénith concert halls, enabling performances to tour easily between venues.

• Internally the atrium space provides access to all floors and visitor amenities.

• A comprehensive landscape strategy links the Zénith to 1,200 car parking spaces and to a proposed landscaped pedestrian network leading to further leisure and cultural facilities in the surrounding area, as well as the public transport network.