In the early 1970s, architect Jacques Kalisz was asked to build an administrative complex, grouping together under one roof a set of administrative, social and legal services (a court, a social security centre, a police station, a tax centre, a union headquarters, an unemployment pole, a morgue, kennels etc.). The Pantin Administrative Centre was then one gigantic, solid, concrete vessel, beached on the banks of the Ourcq Canal, on the Parisian suburban belt, known as the "Ceinture Rouge ". 20 years later, the centre had been deserted, following the failure of a social utopia. Destroying the premises was deemed to be too costly, so it was decided to renovate the place. In 2004, the building took on a radical new function - offices and office workers gave way to dance companies and rehearsal studios. This reconversion, which was awarded the Equerre d'Argent architectural prize on completion, was the first major creation of two young architect partners, Antoinette Robain and Claire Guieysse.