Paris, Amsterdam, 23 June 2022
Press release
ARKEMA CHOOSES URW’s LIGHTWELL OFFICE REGENERATION PROJECT IN PARIS FOR NEW HEADQUARTERS
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) and Arkema, a global leader in specialty materials focused on innovation and sustainable materials solutions, have today announced that they have entered into a nine-year lease agreement for approximately 25,000 sqm of URW’s Lightwell regeneration project, representing 80% of the building’s leasable space and opening near the end of 2024. The new headquarters will bring together nearly 1,200 employees in a completely remodeled, sustainable building and will have Arkema moving from Colombes to Paris La Défense, capitalizing on the districts attractivity and convenience for employees.
Lightwell represents an exemplary environmental project. A regeneration of an existing building, the project preserves two-thirds of the existing structure and incorporates features such as the current buildings stone exterior cladding reused as flooring in the new building, the use of eco-friendly and recycled construction materials, and an externally insulated façade. More than 85% of the physical waste created will be reused or recycled.
Designed by the Barthélémy Griño architectural firm, the project reinvents the modern office environment, creating warm and inspiring spaces designed to be a catalyst for collaboration and socializing, with design features such as a beautiful sun-filled atrium extending the entire height of the building with a monumental staircase and 1,000 sqm of outdoor spaces and terraces.
Vincent Jean-Pierre, Managing Director of URW's Offices and Mixed-Use Projects Division, said: "We are very pleased to welcome Arkema's teams to Lightwell, an inspiring project which has been redesigned to offer a new, socially conscious and user-friendly work experience, unique in La Défense. Lightwell represents a new way of building: a low-carbon renovation that promotes resource saving, with a focus on reuse and energy efficiency. This partnership with Arkema demonstrates both of our companies commitment to addressing the environmental challenges we all face in respect to the workplace environment.
Thierry Parmentier, Managing Director, Human Resources and Communication for Arkema added: "Lightwell’s impressive sustainability credentials fit perfectly within our transformation strategy and are in harmony with Arkema’s CSR strategy. The new space will offer an attractive and modern working environment for the group's current and future talent.
“The building is not only one that puts people first and provides easy access for our employees, our clients, our visitors and our candidates, but this new headquarters will also be a unique opportunity to rethink our working methods by favouring interaction, flexibility and collaboration.”
The Lightwell project is expected to achieve significant environmental certifications including HQE "Exceptional", BREEAM "Excellent" and BBC-Effinergie Renovation RT-40%; and it demonstrates URW’s exceptional global low carbon approach as a part of the company’s Better Places 2030 ESG strategy, which includes a commitment to halving the Group's carbon footprint by 2030.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was advised by GALM Avocats on this transaction, and Arkema by LPA-CGR Avocats and CBRE France.
For further information please contact:
Investor Relations
Maarten Otte
+33 7 63 86 88 78
Maarten.Otte@urw.com
Media Relations
Nathalie Feld – Image7
+33 6 30 47 18 37E
nfeld@image7.fr
Maxwell Clarke – Hill+Knowlton
+44 7884 386164
Maxwell.clarke@hkstrategies.com
Anne Plaisance – Arkema
+33 (0)6 81 87 48 77
anne.plaisance@arkema.com
About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is a dynamic global developer and operator of Flagship Destinations, with a portfolio valued at €54.5 Bn as at December 31, 2021, of which 86% in retail, 6% in offices, 5% in convention & exhibition venues and 2% in services. Currently, the Group owns and operates 84 shopping centres, including 53 Flagships in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States. Present on two continents and in 12 countries, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield provides a unique platform for retailers and brand events and offers an exceptional and constantly renewed experience for customers.
With the support of its 2,800 professionals and an unparalleled track-record and know-how, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is ideally positioned to generate superior value and develop world-class projects.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield distinguishes itself by its Better Places 2030 agenda, that sets its ambition to create better places that respect the highest environmental standards and contribute to better cities.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield stapled shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris (Euronext ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The Group benefits from a BBB+ rating from Standard & Poor’s and from a Baa2 rating from Moody’s.
For more information, please visit www.urw.com
Visit our Media Library at https://mediacentre.urw.com
Follow the Group updates on Twitter @urw_group, Linkedin @Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Instagram @urw_group
About Arkema
Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and sustainable materials. With the ambition to become in 2024 a pure player in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into 3 complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials -Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions- accounting for some 85.5% of Group sales in 2021, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of around €9.5 billion in 2021, and operates in some 55 countries with 20,200 employees worldwide.
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