AGC Glass Europe chooses AXA Belgium as financial and real estate partner for its new headquarters at Louvain-la-Neuve

The company AGC Glass Europe has decided to move its European corporate headquarters into a new office building to be constructed at Rue Jean Monnet in Louvain-la-Neuve/Ottignies.



The location was chosen by AGC, which also selected the building concept on the basis of an international architects’ competition. AGC then set up a construction team made up of the general contractor Van Roey together with a general design team headed by the architectural firms of Samyn & Partners and Beai.



To finance the project AGC called upon a financial and real estate partner, AXA Belgium. The latter was advised in this operation by the Bopro company.



AXA Belgium acting as project owner will have the new headquarters built and will then rent it to AGC on a 15-year lease.



The new headquarters will be sited in the Louvain-la-Neuve science park, near the exit of the E411 motorway. The building will have a total floorspace of around 9,800 m² made up of offices, meeting rooms, kitchens and a high-class restaurant, offering maximum convenience in a modern setting. It is designed to accommodate at least 500 members of personnel.



The design of the project is based on the following principles:



A building that is “green” both in construction and in operation. The aim is to obtain an “Excellent” rating on the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM);

High-class, timeless design, without ostentatious luxury;

Innovative architecture, with maximum use being made of AGC’s architectural and decorative glass in combination with simple, natural materials;

A work environment based on flexibility and efficiency, promoting informal communication and discussion.



The necessary permits have been issued by the competent authorities, and the building will be operational at the very beginning of 2014.



For AXA Belgium, the building represents an investment for its insurance activities.



 



Project participants:



Prime contractor: Van Roey Vastgoed

Architecture and coordination: Samyn & Partners (SAI) + Beai

Consulting engineers: Daidalos Peutz

Special technology: SAI + Flow Transfer International

Stability: SAI + Ingenieursbureau Meijer

Safety coordination: Bopro PM&QS

Technical compliance: Seco

General contracting: Van Roey

 



AXA Belgium is the leading private real estate owner in Belgium, with a portfolio of nearly 3 billion euros representing about 10% of the total assets under management of AXA Belgium. Its real estate activities form part of a strategy of sustainable entrepreneurship, combining the choice of real estate investments with “green” renovation, using environment-friendly techniques and materials along with sustainable solutions in terms of mobility.



AGC Glass Europe produces, processes and distributes flat glass for the construction industry (external glazing and interior decoration), car manufacture, solar power applications and various specialised industries. It employs around 13,000 people and is the European branch of AGC Glass, the world’s leading producer of flat glass. AGC Glass Europe has its own R&D Centre and operates more than 100 production sites throughout Europe, from Spain to Russia.