A New Beginning at the Arboretum
After 14 years in Suresnes, DKV, a major player in fuel and toll payment cards, has established its new French headquarters in Nanterre, on the Arboretum campus.
Once again, the company called on ARCH.DESIGN to support them in this 1,200 m² project — from the property search phase through to the move-in of their employees.
Our teams were delighted to assist them technically in selecting the most suitable site among the three shortlisted options, designing their new workspaces, managing the furniture procurement, and overseeing the construction work.
A Corporate Project
Moving to Arboretum was not just a relocation — it was a true corporate project for DKV.
While the company’s growth, the need for additional space, and an expiring lease were the initial triggers, the underlying motivation was much deeper.
This new headquarters above all aims to provide an excellent employee experience for all DKV teams. Ensuring employee well-being is indeed a key goal of the project. The quantity and quality of the services offered on campus, its green surroundings, and the opportunity to engage in sports activities naturally contributed to the choice of Arboretum.
It was also about giving a new dynamic, a fresh boost to the collective spirit. One of DKV’s main expectations for their new workspace was to encourage and promote collaboration.
Responsible Workspaces
DKV is a committed company that sets and achieves objectives to reduce its carbon footprint. This real estate project, consistent with those CSR commitments, therefore had to be a responsible one as well.
The challenge for ARCH.DESIGN was to create a sustainable work environment with a reduced environmental impact. As an ISO 14001-certified company, we embraced this challenge with enthusiasm and motivation.
To achieve this, our design, furniture, and construction teams worked on several
levels:Architectural and Design Choices
- Selection of sustainable materials such as Feltes Hamonize PET, made from 50% recycled fibers
- Installation of over 1,000 m² of carpet tiles using Interface’s BioX Son underlays, which have a negative carbon footprint
- Extensive greening of spaces with Captain Végétal, distributing 119 plants throughout the entire floor
Furniture
- A significant selection of second-hand furniture: tables, chairs, stools, as well as acoustic booths and phone booths
- Reusing and transforming 54 existing workstations to adapt them to the new spaces and expressed needs
Construction Work
- Responsible site management, with travel carried out in electric vehicles, representing 3,800 km and 451 kg of CO² saved
Support from the Real Estate Search Phase
- Accompanied in its real estate search by a transaction consultant, DKV involved us right from this early stage.
- This allowed us to guide them in choosing the most suitable site based on their needs and project.
Our Support Included:
- Capacity studies of each site to assess accommodation for current and future staff
- Analysis of technical constraints and their implications for project timelines and costs
- Evaluation of the layout configurations and any potential constraints they presented
- Assessment of available services
This rational and evidence-based approach led to the selection of Arboretum.
What Favored the Arboretum Campus:
- A floorplate configuration that enabled the desired fit-out
- Access to large meeting rooms, allowing DKV to dedicate all its leased area to other uses (workstations, collaborative and social areas, quiet and focus zones)
- Outdoor spaces, including a large terrace
DKV thus made a forward-looking choice by opting for a campus that was almost empty at the time of lease signing.
And ARCH.DESIGN successfully took up the challenge of delivering this project in a record three months, while adapting to the technical contractors imposed by the campus.
In the end, the employees were able to discover their new headquarters on schedule — generous, bright spaces within a lush, green campus.
We wish them every success in this new environment.
