Completion Date: 2018
Location: Paris, France
Partners: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Tribunal de Paris – Solar Architecture in the Service of Justice
At 160 metres high, the new Paris Courthouse is one of the most prominent buildings in the city’s skyline. But what sets this towering structure apart is not just its function — it’s the way it integrates sustainability into its very fabric. As part of the building’s environmental strategy, ISSOL® supplied custom-made photovoltaic glass modules that are seamlessly integrated into the façades of this landmark project.
Integrated solar meets bold architecture
Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the courthouse is built around clarity, light, and responsibility. These principles extend to its environmental impact. Solar energy plays a key role in reducing the building’s carbon footprint — not as a last-minute add-on, but as a carefully planned architectural element.
ISSOL® manufactured over 2,000 m² of semi-transparent photovoltaic glazing, which is integrated directly into the eastern and western façades of the building’s three stacked towers. The modules are mounted in continuous horizontal rows and double as both sun-shading devices and active energy generators. This approach highlights the dual value of BIPV: it replaces traditional building materials while producing clean energy.
Precision-crafted, façade-integrated PV
Each PV module was engineered and produced by ISSOL® to meet the project’s demanding architectural and environmental requirements. The photovoltaic glass is laminated, monocrystalline, and tailored to align with the façade’s geometry — including subtle angling to optimise solar exposure throughout the day.
In total, the façade-integrated installation delivers a capacity of 271 kWp, generating approximately 175 MWh of clean electricity annually. This contributes directly to the building’s energy supply and reduces its reliance on the national grid. While the solar contribution represents a modest share of the total energy consumption, it plays an important symbolic and functional role in making public infrastructure more sustainable.
A flagship for future-ready public buildings
The Paris Courthouse is certified HQE “Exceptionnel” and Bâtiment Basse Consommation (BBC), setting a new standard for energy performance in public buildings. The photovoltaic façade, delivered in close collaboration with Solstyce, RFR, and Permasteelisa, helped the project achieve these ambitious targets. ISSOL®’s contribution showcases how BIPV can be integrated into large-scale, high-rise buildings — even within complex urban environments.
By combining architectural intent with solar innovation, the Tribunal de Paris proves that renewable energy doesn’t have to be hidden. It can be part of the building’s identity.
Project highlights
Completion: 2018
Location: Paris, France
Project: Tribunal de Paris (Paris Courthouse)
Architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Developer: Bouygues Bâtiment Île-de-France (Arelia)
PV Supplier: ISSOL®
System type: Custom BIPV glazing, façade-integrated
Installed capacity: 271 kWp
Annual yield: ~175 MWh
Surface area: ~2,000 m²
Certification: HQE Exceptionnel, BBC
