PRISME
Orange Prisme
Villejuif's new architectural landmark.
In 2021, Orange opened its new Île-de-France regional headquarters, built on land south of Villejuif along the Avenue de Stalingrad in the Lebon-Lamartine area. This 18,000-square-meter complex brought together some 1,200 Group employees belonging to the various teams in the Technical and System Information departments. This neighborhood launched an integrated development project as part of the Greater Paris project, with the aim of promoting a mix of social and generational functions. As part of this redevelopment, the entire tertiary area was developed along Avenue de Stalingrad, beginning in the south with the construction of the new headquarters.
The construction principle of this building is based on the importance of the entrance lobby, characterized by an imposing 13-meter-high glass portal. Transparency, an essential element of the building, creates a panoramic view of the green spaces and the opposite entrance. From the outside, on the housing side, the view is not obstructed, but rather ventilated thanks to a lattice structure.
Inside are as many as 105 meeting rooms, video and creative rooms, a corporate restaurant and green terraces, all meeting Orange's ambitions for quality and work environment. Among the goals of this state-of-the-art facility is to concentrate staff to foster greater collaboration and efficiency, avoiding "sites that are too dispersed or obsolete, where the work environment is not suitable," explained Éric Houviez, the group's director of real estate.
The project was led by Icade as the real estate developer and general contractor responsible for all technical aspects of construction. Lahyani Architecture's team managed the design until building permits were issued. Lehoux-Phily-Samaha Architects supervised the work until delivery.
Guillaume Piton, Icade Promotion's regional director for the Île-de-France tertiary sector, emphasized the building's environmental ambitions, highlighting the gilded metal facades and the vertical trellis used as a sunshade. The building was designed to fit into an urban renewal context, with three visual openings connecting green spaces integrated into the area's renewal project.
The arrival of Orange Prisme was also accompanied by a focus on digital inclusion and social support. This is an essential aspect for the municipality, which has made equal access to digital technology one of the main priorities of its mandate. Digital inclusion workshops run on a voluntary basis by Orange employees have been scheduled on topics such as data protection and social media mastery.
The Orange Prisme project was an important turning point for Villejuif, demonstrating Orange's commitment to the city and the area. The cohabitation of businesses, stores, public services and housing in a single neighborhood is one of Villejuif's main goals, in line with the urban renewal project that has been underway for several years.
The construction of Orange Prisme represents a decisive step in the evolution of Villejuif, transforming the face of the neighborhood and launching the city into a new era of economic and social development. Orange has chosen to remain in Villejuif, demonstrating its commitment to sustain economic activity in difficult times. Orange Prisme is more than just a building, it is a symbol of Villejuif's dynamism and openness to a brighter future.
CLIENT:
Icade
LOCATION:
Villejuif, France
DESCRIPTION:
Curtain walls
unitized facades
sunshades
ARCHITECT:
Lehoux Phily Samaha
YEAR:
2019