BNP Paribas, GE Capital unveil major Paris project

BNP Paribas Real Estate and GE Capital have announced plans to carry out a major redevelopment of the Tours du Pont de Sèvres in the western Parisian district of Boulogne.

The high-rise scheme, which will be renamed Citylights, has been a property of the financial services arm of US conglomerate GE since the 1970s but has lain vacant for the past few years. BNP Paribas RE has agreed to create a 60-40 partnership with GE Capital to revamp the asset, with GE committing to occupy 50% of the space and BNP Paribas providing finance for the project.

Designed by star architect Dominique Perrault, the new complex will consist of three buildings offering a total of 80,000 m² of offices as well as a fitness area, and conference facilities for 300 people. The development is targeting both HQE, BBC and BREEAM 'Very Good' environmentally-sustainable certificates.