The hôtel particulier was commissioned by André-Claude-Nicolas Alexandre, a French financer. Boullée began designing the building at age 35, making it one of his earliest projects.[2]
A mansard roof was later added to the building, replacing its original rooftop terrace.
In 2001 the building was incorporated into the atrium of a contemporary office building designed by Delaage Tsiropoulos Architecture Carvunis Cholet to serve as the headquarters of Suez.[2]