This is a little bit of an extension of the long corridor known as the
Axe Historique, going from the Louvre at the heart of the historic core up to Nanterre in the western suburbs. That 12km (7-mile) long axis goes over 4 large avenues, notably the Champs-Élysées, and over la Défense's huge pedestrian deck upon and around which the highrise district has been developed so far. So this is located right behind la Défense's Grande Arche as seen from the central city.
This project includes 80 market-rate apartments and 200 student housing studios in the 17-story structure, a private college and some 3700m² (~40,000 sq ft) for retail and leisure. It's one of those new components to bring some better mixed-use feel and connections to la Défense and its closest surroundings.
BTW, the Grande Arche built only 25 years ago is already to undergo renovation sometime soon, since some Carrara marble panels of its façade fell off the building.
Good job, huh... Not to mention its uncomfortable and yet outdated low ceiling interiors. I think more resistant granite will replace marble and interiors will be reshaped so the arch remains competitive when compared to office towers around.
On another note, we're seeing more and more residential midrises between 15 and 20 stories tall under construction over the metro area, but nothing taller as far as residential programs go. Why is that? I tell you what, I eventually ended up suspecting the so called safety standards enforced by our brilliant, merciless, depressing and mean bureaucracy make it hardly possible, while most locals actually need some shiny ambitious stuff to dream of, like more than ever. Hermitage is surely cool in that respect, but it's not U/C yet and is "exclusive" (ouhlalaaa, how shocking!), while I'd like to see some residential skyscrapers affordable to the middle class in metro Paris as they seem to really do en masse in Canada.