Future Nîmes Congress Palace: where does the name “H2” come from, chosen by the municipality ?

Le futur palais des Congrès devrait être opérationnel pour 2025, au cœur d'un nouveau quartier. Midi Libre – MIKAELANISSET

While the building is emerging from the ground, the City has revealed the name and graphic identity of the future equipment, the inauguration of which is scheduled for fall 2025.

The name had already been rumored behind the scenes for a few weeks. The future Nîmes Congress Center will therefore be called "H2". According to the municipality, this "flagship project of Jean-Paul Fournier 's 4th mandate will not simply be the new center of attractiveness of the city for the professional world; it will also be the symbol of the future face of the Porte de France district.

A "H" symbolic

But why this rather abstract name of H2. According to the City, the idea is "to identify the place, embody it as best as possible and summarize its functions and values". "This is a new important step towards the opening at the end of 2025 of this new attractiveness tool for the heart of the city, which should enable new economic and cultural development for Nîmes&quot ;, supports Jean-Paul Fournier.

In detail, the town hall justifies this H2 with a "H", "symbolic" , which "refers to the shape of the future equipment. Made up of 2 buildings which seem to come into contact on rue Jean-Reboul, it embodies a strong architectural sign symbolizing rapprochement and exchange. Thus,"this singularity of "double" is also essential to evoke the notions of communication and transmission. In the perspective of this famous "kiss"  (name given to the rapprochement of the two buildings at the top) desired by the firms of & rsquo;architects Chabanne and 3XN, a walkway hidden by glass completes the writing of an H".

A reference to History "with a capital H"

Nothing less! But the reasons do not stop there, since the City also sees no reference to History,"with a capital H. The 2,000-year-old heritage resonates deeply in Nîmes. Romanness is the DNA of the City; this is what has made it strong since Antiquity and still characterizes it today among French and foreign tourists. Nîmes is the heir to a heritage to be preserved and transmitted. 

The logo of the future Palais des Congrès was also unveiled by the City.

As for the management and animation of the place, it SPL Culture & Heritage which is responsible for ensuring "the prefiguration and future exploitation of the site. Pre-marketing has already started and will intensify in the coming months with a strong presence at numerous trade shows to bring out this new offer and sign the first reservations", details Ville, arguing from the experience of the SPL Culture & Heritage via the opening of the Musée de la Romanité. "The SPL Culture & Heritage will now focus on structuring the future management of the site, so that the equipment is operational to provide the best welcome to future visitors", concludes the City of Nîmes.