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The Casa de México student residence hall at the University of Paris received the prestigious “Le Geste d'Or” award for its architectural renovation project for its building that's housed university students from Mexico and other countries since 1953.
A panel of judges consisting of architects, engineers and other industry experts from France presented the award during a gala held at the Carrousel du Louvre.
In attendance were Mexico's Ambassador to France, Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo, the president of the Casa de México Foundation and the Casa de México's director, Marta Bringas.
“Casa de México's 63 year history has been a fundamental pillar of Mexico's relationship with France… this is a good gesture that further deepens our ties,” said the ambassador during his acceptance speech.
The Mexican diplomat recognized the award's “prestige” and talked about the efforts by then Mexican president Miguel Alemán, private and public institutions and French families in building the Casa de México, which was designed by the Mexican brothers Jorge and Roberto Medellín.
Gómez Robledo also praised the Mexican and foreign students who've stayed at the Casa de México, which includes diplomats, engineers, writers and scientists and two of its most famous residents, Octavio Paz, Francisco Toledo and Carlos Fuentes.
Casa de México defines itself as a university residence that receives postgraduate students, researchers, university professors and Mexican artists who carry out academic activities in Paris.
Postgraduates and Mexican artists have priority at the residence where students from other countries are also invited to stay as a result of exchange programs.
Casa de México is one of 40 international student residence halls at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, which houses a total of 5,800 students from all over the world.
The renovated installations, which has a total of 92 rooms and can host 103 students at a time, reopened its doors on July 15, 2015 by representatives of Mexico's Ministry of Public Education (SEP) and France's Ministry of National Education.
The renovations included improved communal spaces such as the cafeteria, the modernization and restoration of the building, walls and spaces such as the auditorium and library.
