Originally designed by Arte Charpentier and Robert Lewis Turner in the late 1990s and completed in 2003, the Sequana office building has recently undergone a major transformation. Today, it stands as a benchmark for architectural integration, innovation, and sustainability in the heart of Paris.

Antonio Frausto, associate architect at Arte Charpentier, and Thomas CALU – MRICS, head of marketing at Covéa Immobilier, were guests on “Un chantier, une histoire” (A Construction Site, A Story).

👉 To watch the program: https://youtu.be/_sgOlSsyDLI

Located in Paris’s 13th arrondissement, facing the Seine, this renovation project has skillfully blended the building’s original identity with contemporary needs. The goal was to break down the boundaries between inside and outside, maximize natural light, and create spaces conducive to socializing and informal work.

The Arte Charpentier agency was in charge of this transformation, which was unique in that it was the same agency that had designed these same Sequana buildings, with a surface area of 21,000 m², nearly 20 years earlier.

The client, Covéa Immobilier, wanted to increase the density of these two eight-story buildings, a challenge that the architectural firm successfully met: “The project was particularly complex, as the building remained partially occupied by several tenants and some services were still active,” explains architect Antonio Frausto.

The gradual vacating of floors and the suspension of certain services enabled the work to be carried out in phases. This was a crucial strategy for minimizing disruption and ensuring optimal management: “Close collaboration between the architectural, project management, marketing, and management teams was crucial to the success of these complex phases,” says Thomas Calu, head of marketing at Covéa Immobilier.

The Sequana building is aiming for the highest environmental certifications, including HQE Exceptional, BBCA Excellent, Breeam Excellent, and BiodiverCity. Delivery is scheduled for the end of October, and the building is already attracting keen interest, as evidenced by the numerous visits.

An interview by Christelle Pitagora and Zoé (Ciela) G.

👉 To find out more about the project: https://www.arte-charpentier.com/fr/projets/le-sequana/