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

AXA Belgium and AGC Glass Europe have signed an agreement for construction of AGC’s new European headquarters.

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.