A new Paris La Défense wooden office complex is the latest innovative project in our city, sure to be of interest to 56Paris blog readers.
But the Arboretum, inaugurated by President Macron himself, isn’t just a new business complex.
Almost completely made of wood, it’s also a pioneering ‘green’ development that mixes sustainability with modern office needs.
The largest wooden office complex in Europe
Nestled in the Nanterre section of La Défense, the business district of Paris just adjacent to the city, the Arboretum replaces an old brownfield site, formerly an old paper mill.
Instead of the usual concrete and steel, this office complex has a revolutionary structure – one built primarily from spruce.
It’s now the largest wooden office complex in all of Europe. And its recent inauguration by the French President shows just how important this project is.
Made up of five primary buildings, each named after trees – Almond, Biloba, Cedar, Douglas and Spruce – the complex spans over 125,000 m² (1,345,500 sq.ft.).
That’s large enough to accommodate thousands of workers more sustainably, in a way that challenges conventional corporate real estate norms.