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Montparnasse Station Modernization Creates Hundreds of Jobs, Upgrades CIT Tower
The neighborhood straddling the 14th and 15th arrondissements moves forward with station modernization that pairs commercial expansion and targeted employment measures.
How we reported this
Montparnasse station will gain between 500 and 700 jobs as part of the ongoing neighborhood upgrade that includes a 20,000 square metre commercial zone and a full energy-efficiency renovation of the CIT tower.
The project began in 2018 and was originally scheduled to finish station work by 2020. It matters now because residents continue to navigate the physical and economic shifts that came with the station overhaul and the linked commercial additions at the Gaîté shopping centre on avenue du Maine.
Local recruitment focus
City officials signed a three-year employment pact with Altarea Cogedim and Pôle emploi to steer the new positions toward young people, seniors, job seekers and people with disabilities. A job fair held inside the station itself produced 1,200 pre-selected applications and 172 registered candidates with participating companies.
Energy-focused tower work
The CIT tower renovation, awarded to architects Lacaton & Vassal at a cost of 50 million euros, replaces the dark facade with sliding windows and balconies while converting the 12th and 13th floors into bioclimatic greenhouses. The design captures passive solar gains, recycles rainwater and adds photovoltaic electricity production. Work was planned to empty the building for roughly two years starting in 2020, allowing co-owners to finance the upgrades through long-term energy savings.
Compared with renewal projects in other global districts that often prioritise new commercial space alone, Montparnasse integrates local hiring pacts and measurable energy upgrades from the outset. Residents seeking updates on timelines or job opportunities can contact the City of Paris employment services or check listings at Pôle emploi offices serving the 14th and 15th arrondissements.