Initiated by Aviva France four years ago, the project of the Carpe Diem tower is financed on an equal basis by Aviva and Predica, a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Assurances, through a real estate company.
- First tower aiming for a two-fold environmental certification
This ceremony took place in the presence of the following:
- Joëlle Ceccaldi-Raynaud, deputy of Haute-de-Seine, Mayor of Puteaux and chairman of the board of directors of the EPADESA
- Jacques Kossowski, deputy of Hauts-de-Seine, Mayor of Puteaux and chairman of the board of directors of the EPADESA
- Patrick Devedjian, deputy of Hauts-de-Seine, President of the Council of Hauts-de-Seine and chairman of the board of directors of DEFACTO
- His Excellency the Ambassador of Belgium, Mr Patrick Vercauteren Drubbel
- Nicolas Schimel, director general of Aviva France
- Jérôme Grivet, director general of Crédit Agricole Assurances and of Predica
- Joëlle Chauvin, chairman and director general of Aviva Investors Real Estate France SA - FRICS.
Initiated by Aviva France four years ago, the project of the Carpe Diem tower is financed on an equal basis by Aviva and Predica, a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Assurances, through a real estate company.
Nicolas Schimel, director general of Aviva France, declared: “The Carpe Diem Tower is a real mark of confidence of Aviva both for the future of La Défense as a ‘tertiary lung’ of the French economy and in our durable development values. We are proud to have been at the initiative of this innovative project and we are honoured and delighted that Predica has joined us on an equal basis in this fine adventure”.
Jérôme Grivet, director general of Crédit Agricole Assurances and of Predica, declared: “We are particularly proud to invest alongside Aviva France in a project of such great scope, and thus take part in the financing of the economy. This partnership is the mark of reciprocal trust and a shared vision for the future. This project, which fits perfectly within our investment policy, also highlights our requirements on the subject of social and environmental responsibility”.
“The Carpe Diem Tower stands out in terms of its innovative architectural identity and a flexible and elegant functionality,” stated Joëlle Chauvin, chairman and director general of Aviva Investors Real Estate France SA - FRICS. “It will be the first tower within the framework of the renewal plan of La Défense in demolition and re-construction, but also the first to be set within a procedure of two-fold French and American environmental certification, HQE® (High Environmental Quality) and LEED® Gold level, which will be new to France”.
Designed by the New York firm Robert AM Stern Architects, the project integrates the tower between the historic square and the town of Courbevoie, in response to the objectives of the specification of the clerk of works and of the Public Development Establishment of La Défense Seine Arche (EPADESA). Hines France was chosen to be the delegated clerk of works.
Architecturally, the Carpe Diem tower will present two types of facades: north and south façades as multi-faceted “points of a diamond” in glass which will reflect the light, and completely smooth east and west façades. The tower can accommodate 3,000 persons and will particularly offer trade on the urban high street, an auditorium, restaurant spaces, a winter garden and a suspended garden accessible on the terrace. The site of Carpe Diem will provide 700 jobs and more than 400 colleagues on the site.
Delivery is planned for the end of 2012.
Identity Card of the Carpe Diem tower
Carpe Diem in figures
38 levels
162 m of height
44,000 useful m2 for offices (including 350 m2 for shops) which can accommodate 3000 persons. Landings of 1,400 m2 SHON
Schedule of the operation
2007: Aviva Investors Real Estate at the initiative of the project
May 2009: obtainment of the building permit and permit for definitive demolition
January 2010: signature of the partnership between Aviva France and Predica
February 2010: signature with Epad of the acquisition of the building rights. Launch of demolition and re-construction work.
End of 2012: delivery of the tower.
Clerk of Works: SCI Carpe Diem, the associates of which are represented by Aviva Investors Real Estate France, are:
Aviva France
Predica
Operators
Design architect: American firm Robert AM Stern Architects / SRA Architects
MOD: Hines France
Layout: Jean Jegou
30 technical research offices
Two environmental certifiers
Proxy company: SPIE SCGPM/Besix group
15 major companies
400 colleagues on the site
700 jobs created
A works contract of approximately €130 million.
-ends-
Press contacts:
Estelle Joubert
Telephone: +33 (0)1 76 62 57 86
Email: estelle_joubert@aviva.fr
Karim Mokrane
Telephone: +33 (0)1 76 62 76 85
Email: karim_mokrane@aviva.fr
Crédit Agricole Assurances
Elise Bouteiller - +33 (0)1 43 23 80 71
Camille Langevin - +33 (0)1 57 72 73 36
Email: service.presse@ca-assurances.fr
Notes to editors:
About Aviva France
Aviva is the sixth largest insurer in the world* with more than 53 million clients spread over Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific zone. The major sectors of the Aviva group are life insurance and long-term savings, assets management and damage insurance, with a total turnover of €55.4 billion and €468 billion of assets under management on 31 December 2010. Aviva is the most important insurer in the United Kingdom and one of the major life and retirement savings insurers in Europe.
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With more than 180 years of experience in France, Aviva is positioned among the top 10 insurance market players. Aviva France offers a complete range of products to three million clients, individuals, and small and medium businesses.
The company is distinguished by the solid and profitable model of multi-distribution (875 general agents, 1,800 agency collaborators, 1,000 brokers, 400 life consultants, 900 consultants in UFF management). Aviva France also has partners such as the AFER, the largest savers’ association in France, the Crédit du Nord Group, and vehicle manufacturers. Aviva directly employs more than 4,700 collaborators.
On 31 December 2010, it recorded a consolidated turnover of €7.0 billion and a net profit in IFRS accounting base of €304 million. The company had €80.7 billion of assets under management on 31 December 2010.
* On the basis of gross world premiums issued on 31 December 2009.
About Crédit Agricole Assurances
First banking insurer in Europe and second life insurer in France in terms of the amount of premiums collected, the Crédit Agricole Assurances group brings together the activities of insurance in France and internationally, and joins Predica for personal insurance, Pacifica for damages insurance, Caci for borrowers insurance, international subsidiaries as well as Caagis for IT management and its services.
The Crédit Agricole group in figures (as at 31 December 2010)
- €29.7 billion of turnover
- €218.5 billion of liabilities
- €1.4 billion of consolidated profit
- More than 3,200 persons.