Tour First
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| Tour First | |
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| Name | Tour First |
| Location | La Défense, Puteaux, Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France |
| Status | Completed |
| Start date | 1973 |
| Completion date | 1974 |
| Renovation date | 2007–2011 |
| Building type | Office |
| Roof | 231 m |
| Floor count | 52 |
| Floor area | 86,707 m2 |
| Architect | Antonio Lamela, Norberto Ciliberto, Hugein Ramos |
| Developer | Société Foncière Lyonnaise, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield |
| Owner | Axa IM — Real Assets, Perella Weinberg Partners |
Tour First Tour First is a landmark office skyscraper in the La Défense business district of Paris, France. Originally completed in the early 1970s and extensively modernized in the first decade of the 21st century, it serves as a major corporate headquarters and symbol of Île-de-France commercial development. The tower has been associated with prominent financial institutions, real estate investors, and architectural practices from Spain and Italy.
History
The building was commissioned during a period of rapid expansion in La Défense driven by planners from Puteaux and developers including Société Foncière Lyonnaise and international investors such as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. Construction began under the auspices of firms linked to the municipal policies of Courbevoie and the regional planning authorities of Hauts-de-Seine and Île-de-France. The original tower opened in 1974 and quickly became associated with insurance and banking tenants like AXA and regional offices of Crédit Lyonnais and BNP Paribas. In the 1990s, shifts in corporate real estate led to ownership transfers involving entities such as Groupe des Assurances Nationales and asset managers including AXA Investment Managers and Perella Weinberg Partners.
A major renovation from 2007 to 2011 involved international teams and approvals from local bodies including the Établissement Public d'Aménagement de La Défense and coordination with transport authorities such as RATP and SNCF. The refurbishment was financed by consortia featuring AXA IM — Real Assets and investment banks like Lazard and Goldman Sachs. The project aligned with urban policy initiatives by the Ministry of Culture (France) and planning frameworks referenced by the Conseil régional d'Île-de-France.
Architecture and design
The redesign was led by Spanish architect Antonio Lamela in partnership with engineering firms and consultants from Arup and structural specialists with links to Setec and Eiffage. The modernized facade and extended height reflect influences from contemporary high-rise projects in Madrid, London, and Frankfurt am Main, while integrating French seismic and fire-safety codes administered by agencies such as the Ministry of Interior (France) and standards bodies like AFNOR.
Design elements reference curtain-wall systems used on towers like Tour Montparnasse and technical solutions employed in projects by Norman Foster and SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill). Interior fit-outs implemented workplace strategies influenced by consultants from CBRE, JLL, and Cushman & Wakefield, incorporating sustainable technologies guided by certification frameworks such as BREEAM and LEED. Public realm improvements were coordinated with the Établissement Public pour l'Aménagement de la Défense and aligned with masterplans involving plazas near Grande Arche and transit interchanges for La Défense (Paris Métro).
Specifications
The tower reaches a roof height of 231 metres, comprising 52 floors and approximately 86,707 square metres of office floor area, with core and shell systems upgraded to contemporary performance standards. Vertical transport systems include high-speed elevators supplied by firms like Otis, KONE, and Schindler Group, while mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works were executed by contractors such as Engie and Veolia affiliates. Structural retrofitting involved concrete and steel techniques comparable to methods used in projects by VSL International and ArcelorMittal.
Security and building management integrate technologies from providers including Honeywell, Siemens, and Schneider Electric. Parking, logistics, and service access coordinate with local infrastructure managed by SNCF and commuter services operated by Transilien and RATP Group.
Ownership and usage
Ownership has passed through multiple institutional hands, including AXA IM — Real Assets, private equity groups, and real estate funds managed by firms such as Perella Weinberg Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, Blackstone, and Ivanhoé Cambridge. Major tenants historically include AXA, multinational law firms, consulting firms like McKinsey & Company and Accenture, and financial institutions including BNP Paribas, Société Générale, and HSBC. Co-working and serviced-office operators such as WeWork and Regus have influenced leasing models within the tower, alongside corporate occupiers from sectors represented by TotalEnergies, Renault, and EDF.
Leasing strategies have been advised by commercial real estate brokers CBRE, JLL, and BNP Paribas Real Estate, with asset management conducted under regulation from the Autorité des marchés financiers and oversight by tax authorities including Direction générale des finances publiques.
Cultural and economic impact
As one of the tallest structures in La Défense, the skyscraper contributes to the skyline alongside landmarks such as Grande Arche, Tour Montparnasse, and the Paris La Défense Arena. It has featured in urban studies by scholars at institutions including Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, École des Ponts ParisTech, and think tanks like Institut Montaigne and Fondation Jean Jaurès.
Economically, the tower has been a hub for employment in sectors linked to finance, insurance, and professional services represented by firms such as Deloitte, PwC, and KPMG, influencing commercial rents reported by analytics from CBRE Research and Savills. The renovation stimulated construction activity involving contractors like Bouygues Construction and Vinci, contributing to regional investment narratives tracked by the Banque de France and economic observatories at the INSEE.
Culturally, the building participates in guided architecture tours organized by groups such as Parcours d'Architecture La Défense and has been photographed and depicted in publications by editors like Le Monde and Architectural Digest (French edition), while its redevelopment engaged public debate involving elected officials from Puteaux municipal council and commentators in media outlets including Les Echos and France 24.
Category:Skyscrapers in La Défense