Tours Société Générale
Encyclopedia
Société Générale Twin Towers are two office skyscraper
s located in La Défense
, a high-rise business district
, and in Nanterre
, France
, west of Paris
. Their exterior designs are exactly identical.
The towers were built and opened in 1995 to become the head office of the Société Générale
, one of France's largest banking groups. Before the twin towers were constructed, Société Générale's headquarters were located in Paris
.
The roof and structural height of both towers is at 167 m (548 ft) above ground. The towers were the tallest skyscrapers built in La Défense since the Tour Total
in 1985. The northern tower is named tour Alicante and the southern one tour Chassagne. In its interior design, Chassagne is decorated with white stone from the village of Chassagne
in Auvergne
, whereas Alicante is decorated with red marble from Alicante
in Spain. Both towers share the same platform and stand about 40 m (130 ft) apart. The roofs of the towers are sharply inclined.
Despite the large office space available in the current twin towers, Société Générale needed yet more space and so it launched the construction of a third skyscraper, the 183 m (600 ft) tall Tour Granite
, which stands immediately behind the twin towers and was opened in 2008.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
s located in La Défense
La Défense
La Défense is a major business district of the Paris aire urbaine. With a population of 20,000, it is centered in an orbital motorway straddling the Hauts-de-Seine département municipalities of Nanterre, Courbevoie and Puteaux...
, a high-rise business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, and in Nanterre
Nanterre
Nanterre is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located west of the center of Paris.Nanterre is the capital of the Hauts-de-Seine department as well as the seat of the Arrondissement of Nanterre....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, west of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Their exterior designs are exactly identical.
The towers were built and opened in 1995 to become the head office of the Société Générale
Société Générale
Société Générale S.A. is a large European Bank and a major Financial Services company that has a substantial global presence. Its registered office is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, while its head office is in the Tours Société Générale in the business district of La...
, one of France's largest banking groups. Before the twin towers were constructed, Société Générale's headquarters were located in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The roof and structural height of both towers is at 167 m (548 ft) above ground. The towers were the tallest skyscrapers built in La Défense since the Tour Total
Tour Total
Tour Total is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, Courbevoie, the high-rise business district west of and adjacent to the city of Paris, France designed in the Modern architectural style...
in 1985. The northern tower is named tour Alicante and the southern one tour Chassagne. In its interior design, Chassagne is decorated with white stone from the village of Chassagne
Chassagne
Chassagne is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
in Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
, whereas Alicante is decorated with red marble from Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
in Spain. Both towers share the same platform and stand about 40 m (130 ft) apart. The roofs of the towers are sharply inclined.
Despite the large office space available in the current twin towers, Société Générale needed yet more space and so it launched the construction of a third skyscraper, the 183 m (600 ft) tall Tour Granite
Tour Granite
Tour Granite is an office skyscraper in La Défense, the high-rise business district situated west of Paris, France.Tour Granite was opened in December 2008. The building is designed by French architect Christian de Portzamparc. It is the fourth tallest building in la Défense, after Tour Total, Tour...
, which stands immediately behind the twin towers and was opened in 2008.
See also
- SkyscraperSkyscraperA skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
- La DéfenseLa DéfenseLa Défense is a major business district of the Paris aire urbaine. With a population of 20,000, it is centered in an orbital motorway straddling the Hauts-de-Seine département municipalities of Nanterre, Courbevoie and Puteaux...
- List of tallest structures in Paris
External links
- Tours Société Générale (Emporis)