CLIENTGCI (Générale Continentale Investissements)
SERVICESArchitecture I Renovation-Extension
LOCATIONCourbevoie
SIZE22 300 m²
DATECompleted 2021
CERTIFICATIONSNF HQE™ Exceptional; BREEAM Excellent, label Effinergie+; Certificate WIREDSCORE; Certificate SMARTSCORE
AWARDSULI Europe Award for Excellence ; Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Awards
Iconic, inclusive and connected, Latitude is a strong symbol of the constant renewal of the Paris La Défense business district. Demonstrating design leadership and innovation-driven technical and programmatic prowess, this challenging redevelopment of a 1970s office building is an ode to the human-scale campus.
Set in a singular urban environment, between the railway and the ring road overpass, the former “Berkeley” building and its above-ground car park have been transformed into a 22 300 sqm office and services hub property. Guided by movement, transparency and generous volumes, Latitude stands out with its dynamic and welcoming horizontality. A landmark destination that speaks to new generations and their search for a more holistic work experience.
A symbol of the renewal of business districts Latitude is future proofed, iconic, inclusive, and connected to its urban environment
Latitude transforms the area with its unique façade, surprising in a landscape dominated by straight lines and high-rise towers.
Inspired by the surrounding rail and road networks, STUDIOS Architecture imagined a dynamic undulating facade with ribbons that bring an organic dimension to its very urban and mineral setting.
A 32-meter extension was added to link the original building to the car park, previously separated by the overpass. The result is a people-focused horizontal campus, a stark contrast to its immediate environment overpowered by vertical towers but also a welcome transition to the low rise residential area beyond.
Visibility and access were significantly improved through two key interventions: a 32-meter extension has been added to the existing office building resulting in a 120 meters long façade along the overpass, and the reconversion of the former car park into a ground-floor hub has extended the base to 175 meters creating a smooth transition to the low-rise residential area beyond.
STUDIOS repositioned a complex, unwelcoming and cluttered site to become a prime destination
The former car park has been transformed into a transparent and vibrant space (hub?) with double and triple height volumes, culminating at nearly 11 meters under a skylight at the heart of the building. This active area allows a connection between the street and the property and serves as the main entrance to the site, signaled and protected by a large canopy opening up to the plaza.
The newly created plaza, fitted out by Paris La Défense and co-designed with STUDIOS Architecture, echoes the facade's organic volumes, improving accessibility and offering a gentle transition space for pedestrians. From this new plaza, the double-height lobby invites you to enter the service-driven interior street offering a multitude of daily experiences. The diversity of food and beverage destinations (atrium bar, food hall/salad bar, brasserie, grab&go, coffee-bar) are designed to eat, live, work and socialize throughout the day, able to serve as alternative workspaces, ideation rooms and reception areas.
Turning constraints into opportunities and focusing on the everyday human experience, this ambitious redevelopment of a 1970s building is a powerful example of future-proofing a new generation of office buildings
Sustainability, performance and wellbeing were strong guiding principles and the property aims to reach HQE Exceptional, BREEAM Excellent, Effinergie +, Well V2 and Wiredscore Platinum. Designing for a health-oriented future is further fostered by outdoor spaces on the ground floor, an accessible Japanese-inspired pocket park on the second floor and planted roofs, improving both visual and sensorial experiences, also in the neighborhood.
The transformed highly flexible light-filled floorplates – extended from 1 800 to 2 200 sqm each, over 8 floors – offer expansive views of the city and, by overcoming technical and structural challenges, have increased the uninterrupted floor-to-ceiling height to 2.70 m. The total capacity of the property has been increased in order to accommodate 2 000 people.
