Following the international Call for Projects launched by EPAMARNE in March 2008, the “FEDREIM” investment fund was chosen to complete an innovative tertiary-sector commercial project in Cité Descartes. The FEDREIM asked real-estate developer “Les Nouveaux Constructeurs” to co-develop this green enterprise, which is of unusual size and designed around a key concept: “A Different Way of Working”. We asked our guests to explain.

What will the Green Valley project in Champs-sur-Marne consist of?
Dorothée Oung: Green Valley is a 154,000 sq. m. real-estate project located in Champs-sur-Marne, right by the RER A train, and right in the centre of Descartes Cluster, which is devoted to sustainable cities and building, and belongs among the clusters of excellence in “Greater Paris”. It will include 120,000 sq. m. intended for tertiary-sector and laboratory space, 8,000 sq. m. in retail and 20,000 sq. m. in short- and mid-term-stay hotel residences. Two 3,500 and 2,000 sq. m. “showcase” buildings at the start of the site will be devoted to our “Different Way of Working” concept.

What will be the appeal of this future tertiary-sector surface?
Dorothée Oung: Above all, Green Valley is about building to serve Man. We have built this project around the “Different Way of Working” concept: accordingly, we shall be providing all Cité Descartes employees with shared caretaker services and weekly sports and cultural events. For instance, we shall hold inter-company cross-country runs, Tai-Chi sessions, open-air back-projection screenings, and no less than 33,000 sq. m. in green areas to promote well-being among Cité Descartes employees and residents (i.e. an amphitheatre, petanque courts, meadows, etc.).

How is Green Valley a sustainable development project?
Guillaume Heiser: We intend to secure triple certification: HQE* (French), LEED** (US) and BREAM*** (UK). We shall use sustainable materials in all buildings, especially a significant amount of wood. Features will be chosen in such a way as to facilitate easy maintenance, thus ensuring the buildings are longer-lasting.
Dorothée Oung: Indeed, the leitmotiv underlying this whole operation has been: how can we reinstate Man within his environment? It is our wish to set up low-energy buildings on a human scale, with plenty of green areas in order to promote employee well-being, while maintaining Cité Descartes’ human and architectural setting.

How far along is the project at this time?
Dorothée Oung: We are currently finalising the feasibility studies that will allow us to apply this year for the building permit for 96,000 sq. m., with delivery of the initial buildings planned for late 2012. The second and last step will begin in 2016.

What kinds of companies is the Green Valley project intended for?
Guillaume Heiser: In the first place, for companies looking to streamline their real-estate costs, by taking advantage of attractive rents (half the rents at La Défense and a third of rents within Paris proper!). This will help diversify the companies established in Marne-La-Vallée. Dorothée Oung: Green Valley will also appeal to companies attracted by the presence of some 30,000 students and future PhD candidates and engineers from local schools (Ponts et Chaussées, ESIEE, University of Marne-la-Vallée, School of Architecture). We are not yet in a position to announce the names of our future customers, but the project is already generating widespread interest. It interests both paragovernmental and private-sector companies in transport, energy, construction, etc. Many of those companies are seeking effective laboratory and research centres and some synergy with schools, all benefits that are provided by the Green Valley project.

About FEDREIM: Formerly “Federal Developpement Europe”, FEDREIM is the European partner for the Federal Development LLC American investment fund, founded in 1929 in the United States and established today on every continent. FEDREIM has $5 billion in assets throughout the world, including all kinds of projects (tertiary-sector, hotels, retail, etc.)

Les Nouveaux Constructeurs: A real-estate developer group founded in 1972, conducting twofold business in housing and the tertiary sector, and a FEDREIM fund partner in the Green Valley project.
Les Nouveaux Constructeurs have to date completed over 500,000 sq. m. in tertiary-sector space, including some 100,000 sq. m. in the Marne-la-Vallée area.

* HQE: high environmental quality (Haute Qualité Environnementale)
**LEED: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
***BREAM: Building Research Establishment Assessment