Foster + Partners has just broken ground on ICÔNE, a new office complex in Belval Luxembourg. At 18,800 square meters, the building's program highlights many new features needed for safe working environments and embraces changes that will be crucial for workplaces of the future.

In a statement, Darron Haylock, a Partner at Foster + Partners, said: "The project is designed to have open, flexible workspaces that respond to the emerging models of work today. The atrium is a green light-filled space that is very much the social heart of the project, providing visual connectivity and a dynamic atmosphere for both work and play. Biophilia, the green landscaping, natural ventilation and visual connectivity all promoting collaboration and healthy wellbeing."

Foster + Partners designed the new complex in collaboration with Beiler Francois Fritsch, a local practice in Belval. A core characteristic of the design are the two wings of the building, enclosed by a central atrium.

The atrium is wrapped by a grided orthogonal facade and topped by a roof that emphasizes the structural qualities of the architecture. To address the level changes that occur from the street level up to the plaza, the architects chose to implement a series of stepped terraces. Communal terraces also provide spaces for informal meetings and break out spaces at higher levels that overlook the central atrium.