European institutions in Strasbourg European Studies, CEES) of the University of Strasbourg and subtitled itself "École européenne de gouvernance" (European Governance School). Another related academic institution is the Institut des hautes études européennes (IHEE), located in the Art Nouveau former Villa Knopf (built 1903–1905), close to the Parliament and the CoE. This school was founded in 1953 and was then called "Centre universitaire des hautes études européennes" (University Center for higher European Studies). The École Européenne de Strasbourg has been inaugurated by French education minister Xavier Darcos on 4 September 2008. It is the first school of its kind in France. Strasbourg also serves
National Theatre of Strasbourg building to the city of Strasbourg, which in turn offered it to the Strasbourg music conservatory, at the behest of its new director Guy Ropartz, who was refusing to occupy the Palais du Rhin opposite. On 25 September 1944, the east wing of the building that contained the Chamber of the Assembly was destroyed by American bombing. It was reconstructed between 1950 and 1957, this time with a theatre auditorium replacing the assembly chamber. Michel Saint-Denis, the director of the National Theatre of Strasbourg at the time, entrusted this work to the architect Pierre Sonrel, who had recently worked with