Tour AXA
Encyclopedia
Tour First is an office skyscraper
located in Courbevoie
, a Paris
suburb in the La Défense
district.
The tower was built in 1974 by Bouygues
for the UAP insurance company. The building was 159 m (522 ft) tall at that time. Its ground shape was in the form of a three-pointed star whose branches were separated each by a 120° angle. This particular shape was chosen to symbolize the merger of the three French insurance companies that were at the origin of UAP. The tower was renamed Tour AXA when UAP was bought by the AXA
insurance company in 1996.
Large-scale renovation of the tower began in 2007 and was completed in 2011. The exterior appearance of the building was completely changed, with extra height added to the tower. The renovated tower, now known as Tour First, is 225 m (738 ft) tall at roof height, and 231 m (758 ft) including its spire, with a total floor space of 86,707 m² (933,306 sq. ft). It is currently the tallest skyscraper in France.
Another AXA tower
exists in New York City
, 229 m (751 ft) tall and Tour AXA
in Montreal
, Canada
, which was complete in 1974 and is 104 m tall.
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...
located in Courbevoie
Courbevoie
Courbevoie is a commune located very close to the centre of Paris, France. The centre of Courbevoie is situated 2 kilometres from the outer limits of Paris and 8.2 km...
, a 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...
suburb in the 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...
district.
The tower was built in 1974 by Bouygues
Bouygues
Bouygues S.A. is a French industrial group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Bouygues is listed on Euronext Paris exchange and is a blue chip in the CAC 40 stock market index. The company was founded in 1952 by Francis Bouygues and since 1989 has been led by his son Martin...
for the UAP insurance company. The building was 159 m (522 ft) tall at that time. Its ground shape was in the form of a three-pointed star whose branches were separated each by a 120° angle. This particular shape was chosen to symbolize the merger of the three French insurance companies that were at the origin of UAP. The tower was renamed Tour AXA when UAP was bought by the AXA
AXA
AXA S.A. is a French global insurance group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. AXA is a conglomerate of independently run businesses, operated according to the laws and regulations of many different countries. The AXA group of companies engage in life, health and other forms of...
insurance company in 1996.
Large-scale renovation of the tower began in 2007 and was completed in 2011. The exterior appearance of the building was completely changed, with extra height added to the tower. The renovated tower, now known as Tour First, is 225 m (738 ft) tall at roof height, and 231 m (758 ft) including its spire, with a total floor space of 86,707 m² (933,306 sq. ft). It is currently the tallest skyscraper in France.
Another AXA tower
AXA Center
The AXA Equitable Center is a 752-foot -tall skyscraper located in New York City....
exists in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, 229 m (751 ft) tall and Tour AXA
Tour AXA (Montreal)
The Tour AXA is a 104.0 m tall skyscraper located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which was complete in 1974 and is 104 m tall.
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 buildings and structures in the Paris region
External links
- Tour First (Emporis)
- Tour First (Insecula)