TALENT SPOTLIGHT
Tunnel
Vision
A new design meant
new traffic patterns—for
pedestrians and vehicles.
After meeting with stakeholders and consultants,
the team decided to
increase the number of
mall entrances from seven
to nine. It also improved
connections between the
mall and the RER station
and built more spacious
train platforms.
Relying on studies by outside experts,
the team decided to repurpose the least
essential tunnels. Some of the mall’s underground tunnels were converted for other
uses, such as trash-sorting centers, delivery
zones and even a supermarket.
The outside studies helped ensure that
data—rather than politics—would guide
effective decision making, Mr. de Lanversin
says. Although the mayor and other elected
officials were key stakeholders, “it was no
big deal to persuade them it was the right
decision to close some of the tunnels,” he
says. “These highways were built in a time
when people thought we should adapt cities
to cars.” PM
Emmanuel de Lanversin, CEO, SemPariSeine
Other notable projects:
2. Beaujon, a residential and
mixed-use project built over a
major telephone facility and
data center in the Place de
l’Etoile neighborhood in Paris,
France. Mr. Lanversin was CEO
of the project management
firm that oversaw it.
1. Boucicaut Eco-Neighborhood, a residential
development project in
Paris, France, completed
in December 2014. Mr.
Lanversin served as CEO of
the project management
firm that oversaw it.
Career lesson learned:
“When a project
has a high level of
complexity and a lot
of actors, you have
to set up a dedicated
project company
to coordinate
everybody.”
Location:
Paris, France
Experience:
25 years
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