(L-R) Claire Lignières-Counathe, French Ambassador to Luxembourg; Yuriko Backes, Minister of Mobility and Public Works; Béatrice Belorgey, BGL BNP Paribas; Lydie Polfer, Mayor of Luxembourg City; Etienne Reuter, BGL BNP Paribas; Credit: BGL BNP Paribas

BGL BNP Paribas has announced it laid the first stone to its new headquarters in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.

Luxembourg’s Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth (via video), Yuriko Backes, Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Lydie Polfer, Mayor of Luxembourg City, Claire Lignières-Counathe, French Ambassador in Luxembourg, Etienne Reuter, Chair of the Board of Directors of BGL BNP Paribas and Béatrice Belorgey, Chair of the Executive Committee of BGL BNP Paribas and Head of BNP Paribas Group entities in Luxembourg recently participated in the ceremony of laying the first stone of BGL BNP Paribas’ construction project on the Kirchberg site.

The new building, of a total surface area of 18,500m², will have eight floors and 1,110 workstations.

BGL BNP Paribas noted that the new construction project’s design is based on a desire to offer employees a more attractive work environment that facilitates working together and promotes well-being while taking environmental factors into account.

The new headquarters will also be designed to integrate new approaches to work, such as agile working and Flex Offices.

BGL BNP Paribas aims to obtain BREEAM®, HQE International® and DGNB® certification for its new offices, but also the BBCA® (low carbon building) label, ensuring minimum energy consumption during the building’s construction and operation. The bank plans to do so by continuing the measures it has taken to improve its energy efficiency, which resulted in ISO 50001 certification in January 2022.

The employees chose the name “seKoia” for their future workplace through an internal competition organised by the bank. The Sequoia tree is a symbol of strength, longevity and energy, which aims to illustrate the BNP Paribas Group’s stability and solidity, as well as its “deep roots in the country’s socio-economic fabric”.

The “K” in seKoia is a nod to the Kirchberg district, a continually evolving district, in which BGL BNP Paribas has had offices for the last thirty years.

Béatrice Belorgey, Chair of the Executive Committee of BGL BNP Paribas and Head of the BNP Paribas Group entities in Luxembourg, said: “This construction project, which is in keeping with the bank’s introduction of new approaches to work, represents a significant investment and strong commitment that demonstrates our Group’s confidence in the continued development of BGL BNP Paribas and the Luxembourg financial marketplace. The project is also in step with our bank’s ambition and strong convictions in the field of corporate social responsibility.”

Preparatory works commenced on the existing foundations in the second half of 2022, forming the basis for the construction of the new building. Moving into the first quarter of 2023, the worksite was set up, and infrastructure works began to take shape. Progressing into the fourth quarter of 2023 marked the initiation of superstructure works, shaping the visible aspects of the building. As the project unfolds, the completion of construction works is expected for the first half of 2025, whilst occupancy into the building is planned for the second half of the same year. The M3 Architectes SA team is guiding this endeavour.