On the day that Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was consumed by flames, Mexican architect Alejandro Arredondo, who had been living in the city for two years, shared the sadness of the French who witnessed the devastation of this emblematic temple firsthand. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his work, along with that of many others, would contribute to the cathedral reopening its doors just five and a half years later.

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, five years after the devastating fire that severely damaged the structure of Notre Dame, the imposing Parisian monument reopened its doors, thanks to the collective effort of hundreds of workers dedicated to its reconstruction. Among them is Alejandro Arredondo, who played a crucial role in this international project.

In a recent interview, Arredondo, originally from Coacalco, State of Mexico, shared his experience during those crucial days. On April 15, 2019, when the flames were ravaging the cathedral, the architect was working for a firm in Paris, and, despite his limited experience in France, he was selected to lead a team charged with creating a digital model of the church.

His team used advanced technologies, such as drones and high-performance 3D scanners, to create what Arredondo described as a “point cloud,” an extremely detailed digital representation of Notre Dame. This model allowed for the accurate reconstruction of every corner of the cathedral, including those that were difficult to access, which was essential for the restoration works.

The architect, trained at the University of Monterrey, pointed out that one of the biggest challenges when working on the reconstruction in the early years was the toxicity that resulted from the lead released during the fire. This situation represented a significant risk to the health of those working on the site. However, Arredondo and his team managed to overcome these obstacles with professionalism and dedication.

The architect's work culminated in 2021, but his involvement in the reconstruction continued beyond that year. Although the cathedral reopened its doors to the public in December 2024, restoration work is still ongoing and it is estimated that the full recovery of the building, especially its exterior, will take several more years.

For Alejandro, this opportunity to contribute to the restoration of one of the most important monuments in the world was unique. "It was an experience that comes only once in a lifetime," he said, adding that he felt deeply proud to represent Mexico and Latin America in a project of such magnitude.

He also highlighted the collective effort of the workers involved in the restoration, who, together with the Government of France, managed a budget of 700 million euros (approximately 15 billion Mexican pesos) for the repair of the cathedral.

Thus, the work of Alejandro Arredondo and his team has not only contributed to bringing Notre Dame back to life, but has also marked a milestone in international cooperation and the preservation of historical heritage.