Construction of controversial skyscraper in Paris begins

The third highest building in Paris will become reality in 2026

The first stone of the Triangle Tower, a 180-metre-tall future office building in Paris was placed last Thursday, despite criticism, as local media reported. The extravagant project by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron was first approved for construction in 2011 and will become the third highest building in the French capital after its completion in 2026.

Triangle Tower changing Paris scenery for good

Yet another office building is in the work in Paris, as of last week, and it is one with extra large proportions. With its 42 floors and 180 metres of height, the triangle-shaped glass pyramid is a project unseen in the confines of the capital city for almost half a century – the last one of such scale being the Tower of Montparnasse (Tour Montparnasse) in 1973.

The Tower, which changes appearance depending on the point of view, will be located in the 15^th district of Paris, at the exhibition site Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles and will mostly host offices (two-thirds of the area), shops at the ground floor, observatories and a panoramic restaurant. This will be coupled with a hotel, healthcare centre, childcare and cultural centre.

The construction will likely cost the exorbitant amount of 660 million euros, according to developer Unibail-Rodamco Westfield (URW), quoted by TheLocal.fr. On top of this, URW will reportedly have to pay 2 million euros lease per year to the City Hall. And this, for the next… 80 years.

The saga with the project dates back to 2011, when the project owner VIPARIS was first given the green light for construction. The project was then rejected by City Council in the autumn of 2014, only to be approved at the second vote in the spring of next year, including by Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, despite criticism from her Green allies. Legal action launched by local associations opposing the project last year has also failed to prevent the construction from starting.

The building has faced serious criticism on multiple fronts: for ruining the image of the city, dominated by low-rise structures on the one hand; for the construction-related nuisance, such as traffic, noise, pollution, on the other. But above all, due to its expected environmental impact. Environmentalists claim that it will consume large amounts of energy because of its size and glass façade, and it will also bring additional traffic and pollution to the area.

According to the project owner, however, the skyscraper will be sustainable, generating only a quarter of the carbon footprint for building of these dimensions, thanks to high energy efficiency (half of the energy coming from renewables) and efficient use of natural sunlight. Moreover, the building is meant to be repurposed, depending on changing needs.