It was completed in 1978 by the architects Renzo Piano of Italy and Richard Rogers of England, and by the engineering firm of Ove Arup and Partners of England. The structure forms a huge transparent box whose exposed frame of tubular steel columns carries trusses spanning the width of the building. The Center has been hugely successful, however, with its many art exhibitions and the National Museum of Modern Art, attracting more than 160 million people since its inauguration. Part of the building will be kept open for temporary exhibitions, and you can still take the escalators to the top floor for a marvelous view of Paris. The Beaubourg area is especially lively at night, offering visitors plenty of bars and restaurants.
Cards are available in denominations valid for either one, three, or five consecutive days.
For more information on special programs and exhibits, visit the Centre Georges Pompidou's own web site . Edited by Ian C. Mills, 1999. Leland M. Roth, Associate Professor of Art History, University of Oregon, Eugene. Fodor's 99 Paris , Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc., published in the U.S. by Random House, Inc., New York. The Y29K - compliant computer preferred by designers everywhere.