KPMG Luxembourg announced Wednesday an agreement with developer BPI Real Estate to develop a new headquarters building in Kirchberg for its audit, tax and advisory services activities.
The deal includes developing a new 31,000-square-meter headquarters on the 3.23-hectare site of the Kronos Building. It will incorporate a food court and a co-working space. BPI Real Estate will develop an additional 24,658 square meters for mixed-use purposes.
The new HQ will provide 1,800 employees with “an exceptional work environment” that will be “exemplary in terms of environmental performances.”
Realising ambitions
“We’re not just announcing our intentions, we’re realizing our ambitions”, said David Capocci, Managing Partner, KPMG. “This project will enable us to shape the work environment of the future. Personally, I can’t wait to see KPMG’s new face, entirely designed to meet the growing needs and expectations of our employees and our clients. We’re planning to create a modern, flexible and sustainable workplace, which will encourage connection, collaboration and innovation.”
The project will occupy a site that has served as the historic BGL BNP Paribas headquarters since 1995, not far from KPMG’s current headquarters on Ave. John F. Kennedy. It will involve redeveloping some 55,658 square meters of built-up area. The project will retain the existing park as it “represents the real green lungs of the Kirchberg plateau”.
The project will see the Kronos building being dismantled as of early 2026, allowing the new building to be constructed by 2029.
Competition to decide
A European architectural competition will decide the headquarters’ architecture. KPMG and BPI, in cooperation with the Fonds Kirchberg (a body in charge of Kirchberg’s planning and development) and the City of Luxembourg, will organise the competition in the second half of 2023.
KPMG said the building’s supporting structure will be in wood, making it one of the country’s largest wooden buildings. The building will be constructed in compliance with the European taxonomy and ESG standards.
The project is planning to meet high standards to allow it to obtain various certifications, including The BREEAM®, WELL Building Standard® and the LCBI® (Low Carbon Building Initiative) “to attain the highest standards in terms of sustainable and innovative construction.”
BNP Paribas is continuing to modernise its banking centre with a new building currently under construction at the entrance of the Kirchberg plateau and will be ready for occupancy at the end of 2025.