Gecina wins the Trophées Eiffel Steel Architecture Award for its Carré Michelet building in La Défense

Organized by ConstruirAcier, an industry association promoting French steel, the Trophées Eiffel Awards recognize major architectural achievements developed partly or exclusively in steel.

Copyright : Alexis Paoli

Carré Michelet is the result of an ambitious redevelopment project to extend and raise a 14-floor building in Paris La Défense’s Michelet district. This building, classed as non-high rise, offers a total of 37,200 sq.m. It combines workspaces with a business center, a concierge office, various dining areas and a gym, as well as 1,400 sq.m of accessible outdoor spaces.

Through its diverse services and spaces, Carré Michelet illustrates the ambition of the client-centric brand YouFirst, positioning clients as a core focus for Gecina.

Copyright : Hugo Hebrard
 

From an architectural perspective, this redevelopment, designed by the architect Jean-Luc Crochon (Cro&Co Architecture) and the agency Architecture&Environnement, represents a major technical accomplishment. The building stands out through its complex metal structure and its monumental penthouse. The metal framework chosen for this penthouse made it possible to extend the building by adding a further three floors using a cantilever suspension system.

Engineered as a work of art, this architectural framework represents no less than 643 tons of steel, with virtually all of the profile sections reconstituted. This penthouse section is also showcased through the treatment of its facade, with a vertical frame like an artist's studio. Below the penthouse, the other external facades include a geometric series of sunshades, subtly angled in line with the orientation of each side of the building, providing wellbeing and light for occupants.

The Carré Michelet building offers optimum working conditions thanks to this innovative redevelopment and the quality of its spaces. Delivered at the end of 2019, the building is HQE Exceptional, BREEAM Excellent and Effinergie+ certified.