Wooden office building takes shape in Leudelange. The construction of the Wooden office building in Leudelange was symbolically marked by a "first branch". Like a "first stone", this event brought together the actors of the project while reaffirming the choice of wood as a virtuous alternative to traditional construction.

The construction of the Wooden office building began at the end of 2020, a launch made official this Monday with a "first branch" ceremony. The event took place in the presence of Mr. Raphaël Gindt, Alderman of the municipality of Leudelange, Mr. Eric Lux and Mr. Arnaud Regout, Managing Directors of the co-developers IKO Real Estate and BPI Real Estate Luxembourg, Mr. Romain Braas, CEO of Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg, which will be the main tenant of the building, as well as the buildersCLE, Wood Shapers and ArtBuild Architects.

A commitment to wood, well-being and sustainability

In 2020, the construction and operation of buildings were responsible for 38% of CO2 emissions worldwide. Faced with this worrying fact, it is up to us to act. To reduce their carbon footprint, the developers IKO Real Estate and BPI Real Estate have chosen to use wood for the construction of the Wooden office building. The building's load-bearing structure (exoskeleton, columns and slabs) is made entirely of wood, a natural, renewable and local resource that combines constructive and environmental advantages and promotes the well-being of occupants.

Wooden will be the first wooden office building of this scale in Luxembourg. The wood used comes exclusively from sustainable forests in the greater region. In these PEFC-certified forests, when a tree is cut down, one or two other specimens are necessarily replanted. Thus, over the life of the building, the forest will have recovered what was taken from it during the project.

Wooden is also the second building in Luxembourg to be in the process of being certified under the WELL Building Standard®. Unlike other labels in the construction industry, the WELL label focuses exclusively on the health and well-being of building occupants, rather than the buildings themselves.

Wooden is also aiming for BREEAM Excellent environmental certification. The 9,400 sqm building is a model of sustainability and well-being and will offer its occupants a working environment of unprecedented quality.

The new headquarters of Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg

Wooden has been developed to measure for its main tenant Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg. Beyond the certifications, Bâloise is convinced that the Wooden building, the warmth of its wood, its terraces open onto the park and its collaborative spaces that lend themselves perfectly to new ways of working will promote the individual and collective development of employees. Currently, 477 sqm of space remains available for lease in the building.

Work is in full swing

Earthworks began as soon as the building sites were reopened in the spring of 2020, followed by the foundations in November. Structural work will continue until the end of the year, followed by the finishing touches for delivery in the third quarter of 2022. While the use of wood will lengthen the design time, the execution work will be accelerated. In wood construction, the above-ground structural work is three times faster than on a conventional site. Currently on the site, a new floor is erected approximately every 10 days.

The actors of the project

To carry out this daring project, co-developers IKO Real Estate and BPI Real Estate, who both have a history of developing innovative and efficient office buildings, called on the international architectural firm ArtBuild Architects, which has over 10 years of research and experience in wood construction. The construction of the building was entrusted to CLE, with the support of Wood Shapers, specialists in the construction of buildings composed mainly of wood and other hybrid alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint.

Project owners: IKO Real Estate and BPI Real Estate Luxembourg

Architect: ArtBuild Architects

Technical design office: Jean Schmit Engineering

Static design office: Ney + Partners WOW

Builders: Wood Shapers and CLE

Project Manager: QBuild

WELL and BREEAM Energy and Environment Assessor

Building Acoustics: D2S International

Control office: SECO Luxembourg

Health and Safety Coordinator: D3 Coordination

Main tenant: Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg