The Trio Daumesnil: new eco business center launched near Gare de Lyon

Paris recently welcomed the completion of the Trio Daumesnil, three eco-friendly buildings. Their construction is part of an urban project to create a new business district stretching out to the Gare de Lyon station.

Three buildings, collectively known as the Trio Daumesnil, were recently completed in the 12^th arrondissement of Paris. Their launch is part of the “Charolais-Rotonde” project to develop a new business district extending to the nearby Gare de Lyon station.

Covering 4.5 acres, the future business center will contain 12,000 square meters of private and social housing, a nursery, as well as the 12^th arrondissement’s new Dance and Music Conservatory. It is expected for completion in 2017.

The Trio Daumesnil was built by real estate company Soferim in conjunction with Espaces Ferroviaires, a division of the SNCF — the French railway network — in charge of repurposing land no longer used as railways. The project took three years to complete and cost 30 million euros.

Located at 43 rue du Charolais, between Bercy and the Viaduc des Arts — a former raised railway line transformed into five kilometers of walkways and gardens overlooking the east of Paris, much like the Chelsea High Line in New York — the new development “enjoys an attractive location for businesses, as well as optimal transport links”, according to Soferim.

In total, the property contains 13,000 square meters of office space split between three five-story buildings. The premises have already been leased, with the National Institute for Computer Research (INRIA) soon to be occupying two of the three buildings and the third belonging to the Generix, Group.

According to Fadia Karam, head of Espace Ferroviaires, “The success of the Trio Daumesnil reflects the fruitful partnership between the SNCF and property developers in the redevelopment of former railway sites.” A press release by Soferim dubs the project a “successful bet” that will stand as a “gateway to a brand new business district in the capital”.

Moreover, all three buildings are automated — in a process called domotics, whereby lighting, energy, security and other systems are centralized and controlled automatically — and energy efficient. They meet the standards of the City of Paris’ Climate Plan, with glass, insulation and other construction materials specifically selected to reduce energy consumption.

Photo credit: Soferim