1970s relic revived: tectoniques renovates maryse bastié school

From Disorder to Renewed Identity

French studio Tectoniques approaches the Maryse Bastié Secondary School in France as one might approach a long-overlooked manuscript — worn, disjointed, but full of structural intention. Located on the southwestern edge of the medieval city of Dole, the 1974 campus was originally designed in a rigid orthogonal layout by Jouven et Phelouzat. Over time, its fragmented buildings and isolated functions led to a site that felt both illegible and dysfunctional. More than to simply renovate, the challenge was to rethink the entire complex.

The team sees the site as emblematic of the often-criticized architectural legacy from the 1970s. Instead of treating the school as an outdated facility to be corrected, the architects treat it as a latent resource to be recalibrated to meet contemporary needs. This perspective reframes the school’s history as an asset rather than a liability.

images © Maxime Verret

tectoniques’ Strategic Approach to Phasing and Expansion

Tectoniques plans the Maryse Bastié renovation in France with sensitivity to both construction logistics and educational rhythms. The school currently hosts 550 students, with a goal of expanding to 600. The strategy involves phased construction to ensure the site remains operational, while also reprogramming its layout for clarity and cohesion.

The architects begin by stripping back the overgrowth of past additions to reveal the rational grid beneath. Working with the prefab ‘Striwick’ box-and-beam system, the architects reinterpret the existing framework as a generator of form rather than a constraint. New additions mirror the rhythm of the old without mimicking its proportions, creating a quiet dialogue between past and present.

Responding to the spatial disorganization, the team introduces legibility and hierarchy. An upper-level volume bridges existing classroom blocks to house new specialized programs. This move reconnects the previously isolated SEGPA unit, while creating a new floor of pedagogical continuity. The interventions prioritize clarity and reinforce the school’s academic identity.

the Maryse Bastié Secondary School is reconfigured to bring clarity to a fragmented campus

A Hierarchical Structure of Spaces

Tectoniques repositions the entrance to the Maryse Bastié Secondary School to the south, forming a generous public axis aligned with an upcoming cultural center. A broad central hall becomes the new spatial anchor, articulating the school’s internal wings and improving orientation. The addition of vertical elements allows the complex to breathe within its larger suburban context.

The transformation is grounded within a framework of environmental performance. By using locally-sourced Douglas fir, the design reinforces both sustainability and regional craft. Prefabricated timber envelopes and wood-fiber insulation contribute to an upgraded thermal performance while accommodating the logistical challenges of a live site.

Facades are enclosed by vertical green larch cassettes and folded metal elements. The materials balance vernacular references with technical precision, giving the volumes a tactile depth. Extended eaves, shading devices, and aluminum joinery articulate the building’s new energy-conscious profile without sacrificing architectural expression.

locally-sourced Douglas Fir is employed to support sustainable construction