It functions as a convention centre, though it also houses shops and offices such as Fnac (a media and electronics retailer found throughout France), ESSEC Business School campus for executive education,[1] as well as a Hilton hotel.

The site was named for a statue called "La Défense de Paris" by the sculptor Louis-Ernest Barrias which was situated on a natural hill between the towns of Puteaux and Courbevoie.

Originally conceived as an exhibition center for the French machine tools industry, the building was inaugurated by General, and soon to be president, Charles de Gaulle on 12 September 1958.

During this work, some of the more esthetic features of the 1988 redesign, including the striking triangular door handles that copied the shape of the building were lost to more modern but otherwise unremarkable fittings.

Situated on the northern side of the La Defense plaza, this is one of the most eye catching buildings in modern architecture, being constructed of reinforced concrete in an innovative double shelled design with internal ribs.