Thales headquarters Tour Carpe Diem

Concept

Initially, the project for the new Thales headquarters was motivated by the group’s strong ambition to give itself a new impetus, a more ambitious direction, in line with its strengths and today’s challenges.

At the beginning of 2014, Thales, then based in the heart of Neuilly, decided to leave its headquarters with low-quality services and an old-fashioned image. The new headquarters of Thales must be the headquarters of the new Thales.

The setting chosen to demonstrate this new momentum was the iconic and elegant Carpe Diem tower, at the heart of La Défense, designed for its occupants, innovative and environmentally responsible (BBC, LEED Platinum, HQE…).

In January 2015, Thales moved into in the top seven floors of the tower, with a total surface area of approximately 9,500 m².

The concept developed by Arte Charpentier’s team is modelled on the Group’s values and challenges for its new headquarters:

Creating a more modern, visible, agile headquarters
Creating a showcase of technology and know-how in both the civilian and military sectors, and the defence and security sectors
Creating a tool for customer communication, a welcoming headquarters that inspires confidence and strength
Creating a headquarters for the employees of all the units of the group which constitutes the keystone of all its activities.

The project was designed to respond to the architectural writing developed by Robert A.M. Stern. Innovation and flexibility is key: light, evocative of intelligence, global vision, and the ability to connect, to link and transmit, was scrupulously highlighted, and the acoustics were optimised.

Over 7 floors, the project tells a story that unfolds from one level to the next, from one office to the next, from one space to the next…. thus contributing to the reading of the group’s unity: “One team, one Thales”.

The design accompanies the layouts of shared and private offices, with specific spaces interspersed throught the storeys:

The lobby
The showroom
The Business centre
The cafeteria areas
The office of the President
Council Room and Lobby
The clubs

The interior architecture and design of these spaces favour light hues, fluidity and visual transparency. The space is animated by a contemporary and timeless atmosphere.

Thales’ headquarters offer all the essential components for a modern working environment that puts the human being and his well-being at the centre of its concerns.

In order to carry out this project in an exceptionally short time, the project management team developed a precise and efficient methodology, optimising the phasing and the distribution of tasks.

Team

Contracting authority
– Contracting authority: THALES
– User: THALES
– ACA: PARELLA

Project management
– Architect: Arte Charpentier (Stéphane Quigna, Andrew Hobson, Clémence Rabin le Gall)

Design office
– Acoustics:  Alternative Consulting
– Audiovisual media:  LM Ingenierie
– BET HVAC, plumbing, high current/low current: SÉRAU – Architecte & Ingénieurs associés
– Control office – H&S: APAVE
– Execution/Worksite management: SÉRAU – Architecte & Ingénieurs associés

Specificities
– Address: Tour Carpe Diem – 31 Place des Corolles 92098 Courbevoie
– Completion date: January 2015
– Missions: Space planning and support for change. Design project management, approval follow-up
– Surface area: 9 500 m²

Photo credits : H. Abbadie