France, Courbevoie

Carpe Diem

A landmark tower in La Défense
In 2011, having won the Carpe Diem contract from client SCI (made up of Insurance Group Aviva and Predica Real Estate Investments), BESIX laid the first stone of the iconic building which has since come to be known as the "diamond-head tower".

Atypical architecture

As of 2013, the 166-metre tall high-rise offers more than 47,000 square metres of prime office space, and a bustling commercial setting and living environment for more than 3,000 people.

The Carpe Diem tower stands out for its atypical architecture, especially its highly original and functional diamond point façade. After the office spaces on the fifth to the thirty-fourth floors, the "deco" floors are surely the most striking.

These floors include the winter garden with its suspended woven cocoons, the second-floor entrance hall with its 15-metre ceiling and its zinc and glass-clad walls, the auditorium with its unique ceiling architecture, and the theme restaurant on the fourth floor with its silk-screened glass and cut metal screens that define the luxury of this Paris tower.

A joint effort

The BESIX Group pulled together to carry out the intricate design of the Carpe Diem tower and bring it up to full spec. Franki Foundations secured the foundation piles that support the structure, while the experts of the BESIX Engineering Department poured over the blueprints and studies to make certain of the building’s functionality, integration and stability.

Clear-cut ecology

The Carpe Diem tower obtained the HQE, BREEAM and THPE certifications, which are international benchmarks for a building's energy performance. Moreover, Carpe Diem is the first tower of its kind in France to earn the LEED Platinum rating, the highest accolade in environmental design and green building.

Project details

Project nameCarpe Diem
LocationCourbevoie France
Building period2010 - 2013
CategoryHigh Rise, Offices
Stakeholder(s)BESIX France
ArchitectRobert A.M. Stern, USA and SRA Architects
Contract typeBuild
ClientAviva France and Crédit Agricole Assurances
Total Value Euro€ 130000000

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René Jordens

Directeur Commercial