AXA IM Alts completes major redevelopment project with the delivery of FREEDOM, a 16,600 sqm Grade-A office building in Paris

The redevelopment will transform the 16,600 sqm office building in the centre of Porte Maillot in Paris 

AXA IM Alts, a global leader in alternative investments with c. €153 billion of assets under management¹ , announces the delivery of FREEDOM, an office building located at 15-25 Boulevard de l’Armiral Bruix, in Paris’ 16th arrondissement. It follows a significant redevelopment project undertaken on behalf of clients through AXA IM Alts’ market leading Real Assets platform, which is the leading² real estate portfolio and asset manager in Europe.

The 1960’s office building is renowned for its large curved marble façade, which has been redeveloped while retaining the building’s original character and includes energy-producing glass walls. The project was designed by architects at PCA-STREAM, with Leon Grosse responsible for the refurbishment phase, under the management of VINCI Immobilier.

The internal area has been completely redesigned, delivering 16,600 sqm across nine floors aimed at facilitating employee interaction and maximising access to light. Features include an auditorium, boardroom, open plan collaboration areas, two areas dedicated to catering and a panoramic gallery overlooking the gardens. The building offers spectacular views of Paris, the woodlands of Le Bois de Boulogne and the skyline of La Défense.

Among the few examples of naturalised architecture in Paris, the southern façade of the building includes 1,500 sqm of terrace space and decorative balconies. FREEDOM also offers access to 2,000 sqm of gardens accessible from the hall and the catering areas. A long-term lease has already been secured with Murex, the leading technology solution provider for capital markets.

Strategically located between La Defense and L’Etoile, in the Porte Maillot district, which is a major gateway into Paris, FREEDOM benefits from excellent transport links, with accessibility set to further improve as a result of the infrastructure upgrades delivered by the Grand Paris project.  

In line with AXA IM Alts’ global ESG strategy, FREEDOM applies for both the HQE Renovation “Exceptional” certification and the BBC Effinergie Renovation label. The project has also applied for the BREEAM Refurbishment 2015 “Very Good” and BiodiverCity certifications, which are in the process of being validated.

This real estate development highlights the expertise of AXA IM Alts, which has delivered more than 300 development projects in Europe since 2000, with a total value of 16 billion euros, and currently has 9.7 billion euros of development projects under management in 9 countries³ .

Germain Aunidas, Head of European Development at AXA IM Alts, commented: “The delivery of FREEDOM is a significant milestone. The attractive combination of its elegant exterior, peaceful working  environment and performance in terms of sustainability make it a best-practice building in Paris and with its carefully curated mix of indoor and outdoor space it is fully aligned to the office of the future. The development projects led by AXA IM Alts are delivered with sustainability considerations and certifications at their heart, which, combined with a high level of ergonomics and services, are a mark of guarantee for environmental performance and long-term economic value, for both investors and users.” 

Philippe Chiambaretta, Architect, founder of PCA-STREAM, added: “Our collaboration with AXA IM Alts and VINCI Immobilier at the very early stage of the project enabled us to open the building’s foundations onto the city, and provide the building with a glass gallery which offers rare views with omnipresent natural light. The building creates a green haven from the gardens to the roofs, and fully contributes to enhancing the local ecosystem.” 

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About AXA IM Alts 
AXA IM Alts is a global leader in alternative investments with c. €153 billion of assets under management as at 30 September 2020⁴ , across real assets (real estate & infrastructure), private debt & alternative credit and private equity & hedge funds. AXA IM Alts employs over 700 people located in 16 offices around the world and serve the needs of more than 350 clients from Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Middle East. We are a global leader in real assets investment with c. €102 billion of assets under management, the number one property portfolio and asset manager in Europe⁵ , and one of the largest worldwide. 

About AXA Investment Managers 
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is an active, long-term, global, multi-asset investor. We work with clients today to provide the solutions they need to help build a better tomorrow for their investments, while creating a positive change for the world in which we all live. With approximately €830 billion in assets under management as at end of September 2020⁶ , AXA IM invests through two distinct business units AXA IM Core and AXA IM Alts and employs over 2,360 employees around the world who operate out of 28 offices across 20 countries. AXA IM is part of the AXA Group, a world leader in financial protection and wealth management.  

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