France’s Department of Ministry’s New “Hexagon” Building Inaugurated

On November 5th 2015, French president François Hollande inaugurated The new French Defence Ministry HQ at Balard Site nicknamed Hexagon-Balard or Balardgon in reference to its american counterpart.

Hexagon-Balard concentrate all componment of the French armed forces, chief of the staff of the Army, chief of the staff of the Navy, chief of the staff of the Air Force, DGA: Armament General Directorate, General secretary for the administration and the chief of the defense staff, french ministry of defence office. It’s a 250 000 sq meters (2690978 Sq Ft) building on a 39.5 acre (16.5 hectars) ground. It’s the most securised building in continental Europe. Its nickname “Hexagon” doesn’t only comes from a reference to US Pentagon, but from the shape of the central plaza of the building.

France has recently increased military activity in the wake of the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. The country’s response to the attacks have been air strikes against ISIS strongholds and deployment of troops across France. Curfews, states of emergency, martial law and censorship have been imposed on the French public. Similar measures were taken in the US city of Boston, MA in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings of 2013.