Marion Waller, new general manager of the Pavillon de l’Arsenal

The Pavillon de l’Arsenal has a new general manager. Marion Waller will direct the European Center for Architecture and Urbanism, located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The latter’s board of directors unanimously voted to appoint him to this position on January 25, 2023. She succeeds Alexandre Labasse, head of the Pavillon de l’Arsenal since 2012. She officially took office on February 1, 2023.

Who is the new CEO?

Marion Waller was until now adviser to the city councilor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, in charge of architecture, heritage and the transformation of public space. An urban planner and philosopher by training, she worked between 2014 and 2020 in the office of Jean-Louis Missika, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of urban planning and architecture. In particular, she worked on the launch and implementation of the call for innovative urban projects “Réinventer Paris”. In addition to its functions within the administration, it intervenes in many establishments. She teaches urban planning at Sciences Po Paris and at the École Polytechnique, and had given courses in environmental ethics at the University of Paris-Est. She is also the author of the essay on environmental philosophy, “Natural artifacts”, dedicated to the challenges of ecological restoration.

The Pavillon de l’Arsenal carries several projects, including that of perpetuating a “strong intellectual requirement in connection with the world of research and higher education“, of “promote the creativity of architects and share the voice of all the actors of the city“and the will”to be the precursor of new practices in architecture, urban planning, landscaping and design“. The place considers it essential to deal with these themes in the light of environmental and social challenges. “Marion Waller will have to carry out the transformation of the Pavillon de l’Arsenal to make the place accessible to all and adapt it to climate issues“, indicates in a press release the center producer of exhibitions, documentaries and publisher of books.