Type: Office
Developer: Covivio
Owner: Covivio
Architects: STUDIOS Architecture (building renovation), Maison Sarah Lavoine (interior design)
Site Size: 22,797 square feet (2,117 sq m)
Date Opened: February 26, 2024
Date Completed: January 12, 2024
Building Area: 79,169 square feet (7,355 sq m)
Parking Spaces: 53 bike parking spaces
Open Space: 10,764 square feet (1,000 sq m)
Steps from the Place de l’Europe in Paris, the French real estate company Covivio has recast a historic telephone exchange as its headquarters. Dubbed “L’Atelier,” the complex showcases the firm’s expertise, values, and culture; houses 250 Paris employees; and supports the company’s three business lines: office, hotel, and residential.
Covivio purchased the complex from French telecommunications company Orange as part of a sale and lease-back arrangement; the two-and-a-half-year renovation needed to avoid disturbing Orange’s ongoing technical operations. To complicate matters further, the property consisted of two buildings—one built in the 1920s, the other in the 1930s—whose floors did not line up, one with the other.
STUDIOS Architecture created a glazed, double-height staircase that connects the two buildings and provides access to all floors. Throughout, the designers chose timeless materials such as wood, brick, and concrete to convey a sense of durability. Maison Sarah Lavoine’s interior design focused on creating warm, modular spaces that can adapt to the needs of different business lines, teams, and work styles.
L’Atelier offers premium services typically associated with high-end hospitality: a reception lobby with concierge service and coffee counter, catering areas, a sports and wellness area, meeting rooms, event spaces, and landscaped outdoor areas, including one on the rooftop that offers 360-degree views of Paris. Both the lobby and the courtyard are open to the public.
The headquarters embodies Covivio’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Choosing refurbishment over new construction reduces carbon emissions. The renovation increased the building’s energy performance by more than 30 percent. Previously heated by gas, the structure now takes advantage of district heating and cooling systems.
The introduction of extensive outdoor green spaces helps mitigate urban heat island effects, manage stormwater, promote biodiversity, and increase people’s appreciation of nature. Bicycle parking encourages employees to use alternative forms of transport and includes facilities for charging and repair.
During construction, 75 percent of worksite waste was recovered, and more than 50 percent was reused or recycled. More than half of the site’s accessory furnishings are second-hand items. The building’s high-quality materials, including certified wood, will sequester an estimated 48.5 tons (44 mt) of carbon dioxide over the complex’s lifespan.
The project’s sustainability has been recognized by HQE Excellent, BREEAM Excellent, BiodiverCity, R2S, Effinergie Patrimoine, Osmoz, and the BBCA Renovation label for low-carbon building performance.
Covivio’s flexible workspace brand, Wellio, generates revenue by leasing L’Atelier’s private office and event spaces and by offering other services. This approach allowed Covivio to give employees an exceptional working environment at an operating cost comparable to that of its previous, smaller location.
